FACTORS INFLUENCING DAIRY CALCIUM INTAKE IN WOMEN

Objectives: Most national dietary studies have reported inadequate cal cium (Ca) intake by women, indicating that marketing and educational e fforts have not effected dietary behavior changes. The purpose of this study was to identify knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors which influ ence dairy Ca intake. Methods: A questionnaire was developed to accomp lish these objectives, and piloted for clarity and content validity. D ietary Ca intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Af ter revisions, women were sampled from four sources: a health spa, eld erhostel classes, through a Cooperative Extension Service program, and from the Illinois Older Women's League. The response rate was 66.5%. Results: Mean total reported Ca intake (n = 351) was 591 +/- 355 mg/da y. Over 40% of the women reported Ca intakes below 60% of the RDA and could therefore be considered to have deficient intake. Unfortunately, 27.1% of these with deficient intake believed they were meeting the C a RDA. Significant differences (p less than or equal to 0.01) were fou nd in attitudes and beliefs about dairy Ca when comparing women whose intake was below 60% of the RDA with those whose intake was above 60%. The most commonly mentioned beliefs of the entire sample concerned ch olesterol (16.5%), high calories (13.7%) and gastrointestinal discomfo rt (12.8%). Conclusions: These findings suggest an important discrepan cy between perceived and actual Ca intake which could influence recept iveness to education. Non-dairy Ca rich food sources need to be clarif ied as does the caloric and cholesterol content of dairy foods.