title: Calcium intake and the risk of osteoporosis and fractures in French women.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Inserm ERI 12, service de rhumatologie, Amiens University Hospital, CHU Nord, place Victor-Pauchet, 80054 Amiens cedex 01, France. fardellone.patrice@chu-amiens.fr
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fardellone
authors.forename: François-Emery
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Cotté
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roux
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lespessailles
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.forename: Anne-Françoise
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Gaudin
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D008900:Mineral Waters