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Calcium Intake, Major Dietary Sources and Bone Health Indicators in Iranian Primary School Children
Nasrin Omidvar1, Tirang-Reza Neyestani2, Majid Hajifaraji3
1Department 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.
Insights
Most school-aged children in Tehran do not meet adequate calcium intake recommendations, highlighting a need for improved nutrition strategies. Dairy intake was insufficient for many, impacting overall calcium consumption and bone health indicators.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Bone Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Adequate calcium intake is vital for preventing chronic diseases and supporting growth spurts in children.
- Sufficient calcium is crucial for increasing bone mineral mass during preteen and teenage years.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess daily calcium intake in school-aged children.
- To determine if children meet dairy serving recommendations and recommended calcium intake levels.
- To examine the relationship between dietary calcium and bone health indicators.
Main Methods:
- A total of 501 Iranian school-aged children were randomly selected.
- Calcium intake was evaluated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.
- Bone health indicators were assessed.
Main Results:
- Dairy products accounted for 69.3% of total calcium intake.
- Only 17.8% of children achieved adequate daily calcium intake.
- 29.8% met Food Guide Pyramid dairy recommendations; no significant correlation found between dietary calcium and serum calcium or bone health indicators.
Conclusions:
- Inadequate calcium intake is prevalent among school-aged children in Tehran.
- There is an urgent need for targeted nutrition strategies to improve calcium consumption.
- Interventions should focus on increasing dairy intake and overall calcium sufficiency.
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.
Objectives:
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.
Patients And 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.
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