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Habitual dietary calcium intake and cortical bone loss in perimenopausal women: A longitudinal study

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Summary

During an 8-year follow-up study, the effect of habitual dietary calcium intake on cortical bone loss in 154 healthy perimenopausal women was examined. Dietary calcium intake, determined by the cross-check dietary history method, and cortical bone mineral content of the radius were measured annually. Habitual dietary calcium intake was calculated as the mean of the estimated daily dietary calcium intake during the follow-up period. The women were classified according to their habitual calcium intake: those with an intake below 800 mg/day (n=28), between 800 and 1350 mg/day (n=95), and above 1350 mg/day (n=31). The results show a continuous significant loss of cortical bone in all groups, amounting yearly to 1.3±0.25, 1.5±0.10, and 1.9±0.23% (mean±SE) for the groups with a low, medium, and high habitual calcium intake, respectively (P<0.01). The differences among the three groups did not reach statistical significance (P=0.11). Body mass index was found to be positively correlated with the negative changes in cortical bone mineral density (r=0.32,P<0.01), even after adjustments had been made for confounding factors. It is concluded that a habitual calcium intake exceeding 800 mg/day (the current Recommended Daily Allowance for adults) is ineffective in preventing cortical bone loss during early menopause. Body mass index is of major importance for the perimenopausal bone loss.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, Netherlands Institute for Dairy Research, P.O. Box 20, 6710 BA, Ede, the Netherlands

    Emerentia C. H. van Beresteijn, Gertjan Schaafsma & Hugo de Waard

  2. Department of Statistical Consultation, University of Nijmegen, the Netherlands

    Martin A. van 't Hof

  3. Research Group for Bone Metabolism, University Hospital, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Symen A. Duursma

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  1. Emerentia C. H. van Beresteijn
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  2. Martin A. van 't Hof
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  3. Gertjan Schaafsma
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  4. Hugo de Waard
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  5. Symen A. Duursma
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van Beresteijn, E.C.H., van 't Hof, M.A., Schaafsma, G. et al. Habitual dietary calcium intake and cortical bone loss in perimenopausal women: A longitudinal study. Calcif Tissue Int 47, 338–344 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02555884

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02555884

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