Calcium and magnesium dietary intakes and plasma and milk concentrations of Nepalese lactating women.

Dietary calcium and magnesium intakes of 26 Nepalese lactating women were determined from analysis of 24-h duplicate food and beverage composites. In addition, blood, urine, and milk samples were collected. The mean Ca intake of these Nepalese mothers, 482 +/- 249 mg/d, was less than half that of American lactating women yet the Ca concentration of the milk was similar for the two groups of women. The Nepalese mothers appeared to maintain milk Ca concentrations by an increase in bone resorption as demonstrated by an elevated excretion of hydroxyproline. The Nepalese women had a mean Mg intake of 353 +/- 28 mg/d. Two locally available foods considered special for lactating women, jwano and gundruk, were examined for nutrient content and found to contain high concentrations of Ca and Mg. Increased consumption of these locally grown foods could add substantially to the Ca and Mg intakes of these lactating women.