Calcium intake and the risk of osteoporosis and fractures in French women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate dietary calcium intake in postmenopausal women over 45 years of age and compare intake according to osteoporosis diagnosis and fracture history.


METHODS
A cross-sectional epidemiological survey of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women over 45 years in the general population was conducted using a stratified random sampling method and face-to-face interviews. Information was collected on osteoporosis diagnosis, fracture history and risk factors. Information on dietary calcium intake was collected using a validated questionnaire.


RESULTS
Two thousand six hundred and thirty-one women (mean age: 67.9+/-10.0 years) were included. Two hundred and fifty-four (9.7%) had received a diagnosis of osteoporosis by bone densitometry, of whom 154 (45.3%) reported at least one previous fracture. Total mean daily dietary calcium intake was 754 mg/day, of which dairy products (milk, cheese and others) were the principal source. Overall, 37.2% of the sample consumed<600 mg/day and 20.1% >1000 mg/d. The proportion of women consuming <600 mg/day increased with age (p=0.0028). No difference in mean daily calcium intake was observed between women with or without a diagnosis of osteoporosis or with or without fractures.


CONCLUSIONS
Mean dietary calcium intake in this population is well below that recommended in current national guidelines (> or =1500 mg/day), notably in those most at risk for fractures, such as women with a diagnosis of osteoporosis or those in older age groups. Intake does not appear to be influenced by osteoporosis diagnosis or fracture experience.
Fardellone
Patrice
P
Inserm ERI 12, service de rhumatologie, Amiens University Hospital, CHU Nord, place Victor-Pauchet, 80054 Amiens cedex 01, France. fardellone.patrice@chu-amiens.fr
Cotté
François-Emery
FE
Roux
Christian
C
Lespessailles
Eric
E
Mercier
Florence
F
Gaudin
Anne-Françoise
AF
D000368:Aged; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003611:Dairy Products; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D008900:Mineral Waters