DIETARY CALCIUM AND BONE-DENSITY AMONG MIDDLE-AGED AND ELDERLY WOMEN IN CHINA

Associations between dietary calcium and bone status were investigated in 843 Chinese women aged 35-75 y who were selected from five rural c ounties where dietary calcium varied considerably. Bone mineral conten t (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) at the radius were significantl y higher in one of the pastoral counties with higher calcium intake th an in the nonpastoral counties. Analysis by individual for all countie s combined showed that BMC and BMD were correlated positively with tot al calcium (r = 0.27-0.38, P < 0.0001), dairy calcium (r = 0.34-0.40, P < 0.0001), and to a lesser extent with nondairy calcium (r = 0.06-0. 12, P = 0.00 1 -0. 1 00), even after age and/or body weight were adjus ted for. The results strongly indicated that dietary calcium, especial ly from dairy sources, increased bone mass in middle-aged and elderly women by facilitating optimal peak bone mass earlier in life.