Insufficient calcium and iron intakes among general female population in Japan, with special reference to inter-regional differences.

Dietary intakes of calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe) were investigated in 227 women (mostly housewives) in 12 regions in Japan in 1991-1993 by the 24-hour food duplicate method. Nine regions out of 12 had been previously studied in 1977-1982. Utilizing Standard Food Composition database, mean Ca and Fe-intakes in 1991-1993 were estimated to be 602 and 10.4 mg/day, respectively; the former was barely sufficient and the latter was below sufficiency when compared with the Recommended Daily Allowance in Japan for pre-menopausal women. Ca- and Fe-intake did not increase in the 10-year period. Further analysis after classification of the women into three groups of farmers in Okinawa, farmers in Mainland Japan and urban residents showed that Ca and Fe insufficiency was most evident among Okinawa farmers. The leading Ca sources were milk, pulse, vegetables and fish-shellfish, but consumption of milk was generally low, especially among Okinawa farmers. Pulse, vegetables and fish-shellfish were 3 major Fe sources; Okinawa farmers depended more on vegetables and less on fish-shellfish.