Greater calcium intake correlated with lower body mass index

The November, 2008 issue of the journal Nutrition published the finding of Brazilian researchers of an association between greater calcium intake and lower body mass index in men and women aged 20 to 59.
Researchers at the University of São Paulo in Brazil evaluated data from 1,459 participants in the Health Survey of the State of São Paolo, which collected health information from residents in four areas of the Brazilian state from 2001 to 2002. Calcium intake was calculated from the responses to participant questionnaires, which obtained information on food consumption, physical activity, height, and demographics. Forty-three percent of the participants were classified as overweight, of which 13.3 percent were obese.

The recommended intake value of 1000 milligrams calcium was exceeded by only 4.7 percent of the subjects. For men, the average intake of the calcium was 410 milligrams per day, and for women, the average was 483 milligrams. A significantly higher incidence of overweight and obesity was found among those whose calcium intake levels were in the lowest half of participants. For those whose intake was less than 398.5 milligrams per day, the risk of being overweight was 24 percent higher than the risk experienced by those whose intake was in the top 25 percent at 593.7 milligrams or more. Continue Reading