Patterns of calcium intake among French-Canadians living in Montreal

In order to determine calcium intake, 1,450 French-Canadians of both sexes, all age groups and various socio-economic status, were recruited in Montreal and Laval using a stratified randomized selection. One thousand and sixty-five (73%) subjects completed food records: 82.4% for a period of seven days, the others for periods varying from one to six days, providing 6,590 days of food records. Subjects ranged in age from one month to 95 years with a mean age of 35.1 years. No seasonal variation in calcium intake was observed. On average, men consumed more calcium than women. This difference was significant for age groups 13 to 15, 19 to 24 and 25 to 49 (p < 0.05). Womens' diets, however, had a higher calcium density than those of men, except among 10-15-year-olds. Mean calcium intake exceeded the RNI for the Canadian population in all age groups except females aged 10 to 15 years, and both men and women aged 50 years and over. The results of this study suggest that those in the study region most at risk for insufficient calcium intake are adolescent females and older men and women.