OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictive value of calcium intake from milk products and its effect of this on the total contribution of food calcium. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Urban and rural health centres in Spain. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 20 or over who attended for consultation for whatever reason in the time-period set. Criterion for exclusion: terminal illness. 1546 questionnaires were included in the study. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Consumption of calcium from milk products and from other sources. RESULTS: The intake of milk products accounted for 66.8% of the total intake of calcium (0%-93%). The consumption of < or =2 rations of milk products per day supposed a total calcium intake of under 1000 mg/day; of >3 rations, a total intake of 1000-1500 mg/day; and of >4 rations, 1500 mg/day. In subjects with low milk product intake (< or =2 rations per day), the predictive value of this for total calcium was low (10%-30%); and in those with >4 rations, its predictive value was 70%. CONCLUSIONS: Calculation of the total intake of calcium in milk products is useful in the consultation, but undervalues the real contribution, as it takes no notice of calcium from other food sources. Only the intake of >4 rations of milk products a day is sufficiently predictive.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictive value of calcium intake from milk products and its effect of this on the total contribution of food calcium. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Urban and rural health centres in Spain. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 20 or over who attended for consultation for whatever reason in the time-period set. Criterion for exclusion: terminal illness. 1546 questionnaires were included in the study. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Consumption of calcium from milk products and from other sources. RESULTS: The intake of milk products accounted for 66.8% of the total intake of calcium (0%-93%). The consumption of < or =2 rations of milk products per day supposed a total calcium intake of under 1000 mg/day; of >3 rations, a total intake of 1000-1500 mg/day; and of >4 rations, 1500 mg/day. In subjects with low milk product intake (< or =2 rations per day), the predictive value of this for total calcium was low (10%-30%); and in those with >4 rations, its predictive value was 70%. CONCLUSIONS: Calculation of the total intake of calcium in milk products is useful in the consultation, but undervalues the real contribution, as it takes no notice of calcium from other food sources. Only the intake of >4 rations of milk products a day is sufficiently predictive.