DIETARY CALCIUM INTAKE IN POSTMENOPAUSAL CHINESE WOMEN

Dietary calcium intake has been shown to vary both between and within populations. The aim of this study was to compare two methods of assessment of dietary calcium in the local population of postmenopausal Chinese women. The intake was measured using 24h dietary recall as well as a food frequency questionnaire. There was a high correlation in the measurement of calcium intake between these methods. The mean daily intake in postmenopausal women not taking calcium supplementation was 397.6 mg assessed using 24 h recall, and 390.9 mg according to the food frequency questionnaire. There was no evidence of a difference in the reproducibility of the results given by the two methods. The dietary intake of calcium in postmenopausal Chinese women is below the recommended daily allowance for adult females in East Asia, and coupled with other factors may predispose to the development of osteoporotic fractures.