CALCIUM AND SODIUM INTAKE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH ANTHROPOMETRIC INDICATORS IN ADULT WOMEN

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association between intake of calcium and sodium and anthropometric indicators (AI) of obesity. Material and Methods: Women (n=49) aged between 20 and 59 years were interviewed. A questionnaire about socio-economic, morbidity and physical activity was applied. Dietary survey was conducted through a questionnaire of food consumption frequency. The AI employed were: body mass index, waist circumference and waist-hip ratio. Pearson correlation was used to evaluate the association between anthropometric variables and food. For comparison between groups, it was used simple analysis of variance for continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical variables. Results: Although there was no association between consumption of calcium and sodium with AI, it was found strong association between intake of those nutrients and caloric intake (r = 0.80, r = 0.96, p <0.05, respectively). No differences were observed when the sample was defined by groups of calcium intake for BMI [≥600 mg (BMI= 31.9 ± 8.4)], [400-599mg (BMI= 41 ± 12)], [≤ 399mg (BMI= 43 ± 15.4)], and then by groups of sodium intake for BMI [≥2300mg (BMI= 30.4 ± 6.8)], [1300-2299mg (BMI= 33 ± 8.25)], [≤1299mg (BMI= 29.2 ± 6.4)] (p> 0.05). The caloric intake differed among groups defined by the intake of calcium (≥600 mg, 2058 ± 849.8, 400-599mg, 1281 ± 373.6; ≤399mg, 982 ± 330.8) and sodium (≥2300mg, 2569.4 ± 1024, 1300-2299mg, 1438 ± 223.3; ≤1299mg, 924.4 ± 276.8) (p <0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed no association between calcium and sodium intake and AI. DESCRIPTORS Calcium. Sodium. Obesity. Food Consumption. Body Weights and Measures.