Calcium balance in 1-4-y-old children

Few calcium balance data are available from young children on which to base dietary recommendations. The objective of the study was to evaluate the relation between calcium intake and balance in healthy children aged 1-4 y consuming typical American diets. Subjects were assigned to a diet with nutri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of clinical nutrition 2007-03, Vol.85 (3), p.750-754
Main Authors: FRANCES LYNCH, Mary, GRIFFIN, Ian J, HAWTHORNE, Keli M, ZHENSHENG CHEN, HAMZO, Maria, ABRAMS, Steven A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Birth Weight
Bone Development
Calcium - metabolism
Calcium, Dietary - metabolism
Child, Preschool
Diet
Feeding. Feeding behavior
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Intestinal Absorption
Reference Values
United States
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
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Summary:Few calcium balance data are available from young children on which to base dietary recommendations. The objective of the study was to evaluate the relation between calcium intake and balance in healthy children aged 1-4 y consuming typical American diets. Subjects were assigned to a diet with nutrient intakes similar to those of their usual diet. Calcium absorption was assessed by using a dual-tracer stable-isotope technique. Endogenous fecal excretion was measured in a subset of children, and net calcium balance was calculated. Mean calcium intake was 551 mg/d (range: 124-983 mg/d), and mean (+/-SEM) calcium retention was 161 +/- 17 mg/d. Both linear and nonlinear modeling of balance data showed that a calcium intake of approximately 470 mg/d led to calcium retention of 140 mg/d, which is the amount that meets expected bone growth needs in children of this age. No evidence was found that calcium intakes of 800 to 900 mg/d reached the threshold intake beyond which no additional increase in calcium retention would occur. Bone growth needs in 1-4-y-old children following American diets are met by a daily calcium intake of approximately 470 mg/d, which suggests that the current Adequate Intake of 500 mg/d is close to the actual Estimated Average Requirement. The benefits and risks of higher calcium intakes consistent with threshold values should be evaluated in a controlled trial before those intakes could be used as a basis for dietary recommendations.
ISSN:0002-9165
1938-3207
DOI:10.1093/ajcn/85.3.750