August 14, 1997
Contact: Moira Saucer
(202) 872-1488
Increased Calcium Intakes Recommended By National Academy of Sciences
Recognizing the importance of calcium in maintaining healthy bones and preventing osteoporosis, the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine (IOM) yesterday issued a report calling for Americans aged 51 and older and teenagers to increase their calcium intakes substantially. This is the first time that dietary recommendations made to the public have recognized the prevention of chronic disease through nutrition. In the past, Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) levels have been set at intake levels intended to prevent classic deficiency diseases such as scurvy or rickets and to provide normal nutrition.
Older Americans need to consume at least 1200 milligrams (mg) per day, a 50 percent increase from previous RDA levels of 800 mg for women, according to the IOM report. The report recommends that preteens and teenagers aged 9 through 18, critical years when bone mass is being formed, consume at least 1300 mg per day. Previous RDAs for this age group ranged from 800 mg to 1200 mg per day, depending on age group and sex.
"While these recommendations represent a major step forward, in practical terms, it is difficult for many people to consume enough calcium through diet," said Dr. Annette Dickinson, CRN Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, who added that government surveys show that the median intake of calcium is only about 600 mg per day for women and about 700 mg per day for men. She observed that calcium supplements can help fill the gap between normal dietary intakes and optimal levels.
The IOM report, the first in a series on new Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs), updates the RDAs last set in 1989 for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D, and fluoride, which are largely related to bone health.
"The new DRIs reflect the continuing flow of scientific findings showing that higher than RDA levels of many nutrients can indeed reduce the risk of many diseases and thus promote better health for most Americans," said CRN Director of Nutritional and Regulatory Science Dr. John Hathcock.
Said CRN President John Cordaro, "CRN compliments the Institute of Medicine for its pioneering step in recommending increased nutrient consumption to help prevent disease. These new guidelines underscore the necessity of immediate action by all young people to ensure that they build the maximum bone mass needed for a lifetime of good health. Likewise, senior citizens can maintain bone strength needed to slow the onset and reduce the risk of crippling diseases such as osteoporosis." Added Cordaro, "CRN urges all federal agencies to develop comprehensive education programs to implement this major recommendation."
To get 1200 mg of calcium from dairy foods a person would have to consume approximately four glasses of milk (whole, 2 percent fat, or skim), three servings of yogurt, six slices of American cheese, or five slices of pizza. The same amount from other calcium-rich food sources would require eating nearly two and one-half cups of tofu processed with calcium sulfate, 18 ounces of salmon (with edible bones), or six cups of turnip greens.
Other recommendations included:
-- Increased levels of vitamin D for older people from 5 to 10 micrograms (mcg) per day for those aged 51-70 and from 5 to 10 mcg for those over 70.
-- Slightly increased levels of magnesium for all adults aged 31 and older from 350 mg for men and 280 mg for women to 420 and 320 a day, respectively.
The report does not take a position on whether it is best to get recommended intakes from foods, supplements or a combination of the two.
The report also set an upper limit, termed the Tolerable Upper Intake Level, or UL, for calcium at 2500 milligrams per day for everyone one year and above. The UL value, which is not intended as a recommended intake, is provided to help people make sure they are not getting too much of any one nutrient from combined sources, including fortified foods and dietary supplements.
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