Calcium intake in Colombia: are we still in deficit?

UNLABELLED

This study describes the median average intake of calcium in a population in Bogota, Colombia. Approximations on the possible reasons of low intake are listed.

INTRODUCTION

The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) published in 2017 the Calcium Map. It is a review of the calcium intake of 74 countries, placing Colombia in the bottom three countries of the world, with a daily calcium intake of 297 mg per day. The present study determined the actual median average calcium intake of a sample from Bogota and described it using sociodemographic variables.

METHODS

In 2019, 450 anonymous volunteers who agreed to fill out the IOF Calcium Calculator survey were recruited. Measures of frequencies and percentage for qualitative variables were used, along with measures of central tendency with averages and dispersion for quantitative variables. Insufficient daily calcium intake was determined according to age, gender, and overall.

RESULTS

The median average intake was 726 mg/day. Population between 18 and 30 years old had the highest intake per day. There were no significant differences between genders: women had a median average calcium intake of 731 mg/day, and for men it was 717.5 mg/day. Intake was directly correlated with socioeconomic status.

CONCLUSIONS

Calcium intake in Colombia is low according to the age requirements and it is proportional to the socioeconomic status. Medical societies and national government should create policies in order to educate the general public and increase the intake of calcium based on diet.