Consume calcium
ADULTS in India consume on average about half the amount of calcium than required for healthy bones, according to a global map of dietary calcium intake launched recently.
Calcium is a major component of bone, accounting for between 30% to 35% of its mass and much of its strength.
Low calcium intake has been linked to lower bone-mineral density, which increases the risk of osteoporosis and broken bones. In India, the average calcium intake is only 429mg per day against the requirement of 800mg to 1 000mg per day, according to the map launched by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), a non-governmental organisation.
Across the 74 countries included in the map, the estimate of average dietary calcium intake among adults varies widely, from a low of 175mg/day in Nepal to a high of 1 233mg/day in Iceland, according to the findings presented at a symposium held in Krakow, Poland.
Countries in Asia, Africa and South America mostly have low calcium intakes, ranging between about 400 and 700mg/day, the map showed.
The map reflects the findings of a recent study published in the journal Osteoporosis International.
“The map reveals that in many parts of Asia and Southeast Asia the population has extremely low intakes of calcium in the diet, with levels often less than 400 to 500mg a day,” said Ambrish Mithal, co-author of the study and IOF board member from India.
“In China and India, the world’s most populous countries, the average intake is shown to be only 338mg/day and 429mg/day respectively,” Mithal added.
The amount of calcium needed varies at different stages of life. Calcium requirements are especially high in the teenage years due to the rapid growth of the skeleton, and at older age, when the body’s ability to absorb calcium declines. – IANS