HABITUAL CALCIUM INTAKE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH ANTHROPOMETRIC INDICATORS AND LIPID PROFILE IN WOMEN

Abstract

Introduction: Studies have suggested an association between habitual calcium intake and its relationship with anthropometric indicators and lipid profile in adults. Objective: To relate the lipid profile and anthropometric indicators with usual dietary calcium intake in women. Material and Methods: This study included 59 women, aged 20 to 60 years, treated at the Nutrition Clinics of Lauro Wanderley University Hospital, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil. Plasma lipids exams were requested for biochemical evaluation and analyzed in the hospital laboratory. Anthropometry was performed through the Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference and Waist-Hip Ratio. A food consumption frequency survey was used to assess calcium intake. Pearson’s product-moment correlation was used to evaluate the association between the variables. In order to test the influence of calcium intake over the variables, the sample was divided according to calcium intake into the following groups: ≥ 600 mg/day, between 400 and 599 mg/day, and ≤ 399 mg/day. Results: Overall, 33.9% of the women were found to have overweight and 44.1% were obese according to their BMI; 84.7% of them were at high or very high risk for developing cardiovascular diseases. On the other hand, most participants showed satisfactory values of TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C. There was no association between calcium intake and adiposity. The average calcium intake was 629.43 mg/day (±265.99 mg/day). There was no association between calcium intake and obesity. Conclusion: Women with adequate calcium intake have better HDL cholesterol levels. Nevertheless, no relationship between calcium intake and anthropometric indicators was found. DESCRIPTORS Calcium. Anthropometry. Adiposity. Cholesterol. Women.