title: Calcium Intake, Major Dietary Sources and Bone Health Indicators in Iranian Primary School Children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adequate calcium intake may have a crucial role with regards to prevention of many chronic diseases, including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, different types of cancer, obesity and osteoporosis. In children, sufficient calcium intake is especially important to support the accelerated growth spurt during the preteen and teenage years and to increase bone mineral mass to lay the foundation for older age.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess daily calcium intake in school-age children to ensure whether they fulfill the FGP dairy serving recommendations, the recommended levels of daily calcium intake and to assess the relationship between dietary calcium intake and major bone health indicators.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 501 Iranian school-age children were randomly selected. Calcium intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Bone health indicators were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dairy products contributed to 69.3% of the total calcium intake of the children. Daily adequate intake of calcium was achieved by 17.8% of children. Only 29.8% met the Food guide pyramid recommendations for dairy intake. Dietary calcium intake was not significantly correlated with serum calcium and other selected biochemical indicators of bone health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The need for planning appropriate nutrition strategies for overcoming inadequate calcium intake in school age children in the city of Tehran is inevitable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Omidvar
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nutrition Research, National Research Institute, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Tirang-Reza
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Neyestani
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition Policy and Programming Research, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hajifaraji
authors.affiliation: National Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Eshraghian
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Arezoo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezazadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition Research, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Saloumeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Armin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition Research, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Homa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haidari
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition Research, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Telma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zowghi
keywords: Calcium Intake; Children; Food Groups