Calcium intake of Asian, Hispanic and white youth.
OBJECTIVE
To examine calcium intake and food sources among Asian, white and Hispanic youth, in order to develop and target interventions to improve calcium intake.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey with two 24-hour dietary recalls one week apart. Calcium intake was evaluated in 167 male and female adolescents of Asian, Hispanic and white ethnicity, ages 10-18 years, from six states. Main outcome measures were mean daily calcium intake (mg/day).


METHODS
t tests, Chi-square and analysis of variance for differences by age, ethnicity and gender, multiple regression of factors influencing calcium intake.


RESULTS
Overall median calcium intake was 938 mg/day with 868 mg/day for Asians, 1180 mg/day for whites and 896 mg/day for Hispanics. Daily milk intake was the primary predictor of calcium intake with Asian ethnicity and female gender each showing a negative association to calcium intake in multiple regression models.


CONCLUSIONS
Milk intake was the primary factor positively influencing calcium intake, while Asian ethnicity and female gender negatively influenced calcium intake. Thus, interventions to improve calcium intake should focus on improving milk intake of Asians and females.
Novotny
Rachel
R
University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA.
Boushey
Carol
C
Bock
Margaret A
MA
Peck
Louise
L
Auld
Garry
G
Bruhn
Christine M
CM
Gustafson
Deborah
D
Gabel
Kathe
K
Jensen
James Keith
JK
Misner
Scottie
S
Read
Marsha
M
D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001213:Asian; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000208:ethnology; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008892:Milk; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People
D002136:Calcium, Dietary