Calcium intake in obese women treated at Sistema Único de Saúde, Brazil

• Autor(a) principal: Candido SILVA, Patricia Maria
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Rego CABRAL JUNIOR, Cyro, Lima VASCONCELOS, Sandra Mary
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista de Nutrição
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.puc-campinas.edu.br/nutricao/article/view/9368
• topic: Calcium; Dietary intake; Obesity; Cálcio; Ingestão dietética; Obesidade

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the relationship between calcium intake and obesity in a sample of obese and normal weight women. MethodsThe 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaire were used to determine the calcium intake of 177 hypertensive and/or diabetic women. This was a case-control study. The study group consisted of 102 obese women and 75 normal weight women (control). Intake data were compared with the dietary reference intakes and with the animal-source food portions, which are the sources of calcium recommended by the Brazilian food pyramid. The Pearson correlation coefficient with a significance level of 5% of experimental error probability was used for the statistical analysis of both groups according to age groups. ResultsCalcium intake was similar between the groups and both failed to reach the recommended intake levels. Analysis of the intake frequency of calcium-rich foods showed that both groups consumed less than 3 portions a day. The high percentage of women who reported hardly ever eating such foods is worthy of notice. ConclusionAn association between obesity and calcium intake was not found in this population. Calcium intake failed to reach the recommended levels, which was a relevant finding. Considering the age of the studied women and the diagnoses of diabetes and hypertension, there is a clear need for nutrition education activities that encourage the intake of calcium-rich foods, which aid in the control of hypertension, as well as in the prevention of important diseases, such as obesity and osteoporosis.