Dietary fat and calcium intakes of menopausal women

The purpose of this retrospective, descriptive study was to assess the baseline dietary intake of fat and calcium in a group of women attending a multidisciplinary menopause clinic.

Dietary fat and calcium intakes of this group were determined with food-frequency questionnaires, food records, and dietary interviews. The dietary fat and calcium intakes of those patients who expressed concern of risk for cardiovascular disease or osteoporosis and those patients using herbal preparations were compared with those who did not.

Of 75 women, the majority of patients exceeded the dietary fat recommendations and had insufficient intakes of calcium. Significantly fewer patients with an expressed concern of risk for cardiovascular disease exceeded the recommendation for total fat and saturated fat (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in calcium intake between those with and those without an expressed concern of risk for osteoporosis or in the diets of patients who did or those who did not take herbal products.

The large proportion of patients not meeting recommendations for fat or calcium intakes confirms that the assessment of baseline dietary habits and nutrition education and intervention should be an essential component of the management of menopausal women.