Dietary fat and calcium intakes of menopausal women

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective, descriptive study was to asse ss the baseline dietary intake of fat and calcium in a group of women atten ding a multidisciplinary menopause clinic. Design: Dietary fat and calcium intakes of this group were determined with food-frequency questionnaires, food records, and dietary interviews. The di etary fat and calcium intakes of those patients who expressed concern of ri sk for cardiovascular disease or osteoporosis and those patients using herb al preparations were compared with those who did not. Results: Of 75 women, the majority of patients exceeded the dietary fat rec ommendations and had insufficient intakes of calcium. Significantly fewer p atients with an expressed concern of risk for cardiovascular disease exceed ed the recommendation for total fat and saturated fat (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in calcium intake between those with and those w ithout an expressed concern of risk for osteoporosis or in the diets of pat ients who did or those who did not take herbal products. Conclusions: The large proportion of patients not meeting recommendations f or fat or calcium intakes confirms that the assessment of baseline dietary habits and nutrition education and intervention should be an essential comp onent of the management of menopausal women. (Menopause 1998;5:230-235. (C) 1998, The North American Menopause Society.).