Daily Calcium Intake and Obesity in Middle-aged Koreans

Lee, Tae Young; Yoo, Hyun Jeong; Joo, Nam Seok

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The relationship between calcium intake and obesity is controversial. The aim of this study was to examine whether daily dietary calcium intake has any effect on obesity or metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and older Korean population.
METHODS
Data of 836 healthy subjects from ages 40 to 60, who had visited the Health Promotion Center in Ajou University Hospital since March 2006 to April 2007, were analyzed in this cross sectional study. The daily dietary calcium intake of each subject was evaluated by 24-hour recall method. Obesity was defined as body mass index > or = 25 kg/m2. Multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate the multivariate odds ratios (OR) of being obese in terms of different levels of daily dietary calcium intake.
RESULTS
Obese women who were in their 50's had a lower intake of daily dietary calcium compared to the non-obese (obese vs non-obese; 672.19 +/- 240.64 mg vs 776.11 +/- 213.59 mg, P = 0.016) women. The Odds ratio of being obese at the lowest quartile of daily dietary calcium intake was 4.82 (P = 0.016, 95% CI 1.49-19.43) compared to the highest quartiles even after adjustment for age and daily total calorie intake. However, no relationship was noted between daily dietary calcium intake and metabolic syndrome. In men, neither metabolic syndrome nor obesity was significantly associated with dietary daily calcium intake.
CONCLUSION
Daily dietary calcium intake was associated with the prevalence of obesity in middle-aged women, especially in their 50's.