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Estimating Calcium Requirements

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Nutritional Influences on Bone Health

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Abstract

Nutrient requirements are used by many groups to determine food choices and meal plans for feeding people across the lifespan. They are used to evaluate sources of nutrients and for food labels to educate the consumer. Requirements also provide a guideline to determine whether supplements are needed. If calcium requirements are underestimated, inadequate intakes are more likely, which may compromise bone health and increase risk of chronic disease. The evidence supporting calcium requirements is stronger than for most nutrients. Yet, we lack consensus on the appropriate approach for determining calcium requirements. The various approaches for determining calcium requirements are reviewed in this chapter. We conclude that efficacy studies including well-controlled feeding studies are best for determining calcium intake requirements, and effective research including randomized controlled trials is best for evaluating how well various interventions work in translating the results of efficacy studies to the individual or community.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, 700 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Connie M. Weaver

Authors
  1. Connie M. Weaver
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  2. Kathleen M. Hill
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Connie M. Weaver .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Hospital CHUV, Lausanne, 1006, Switzerland

    Peter Burckhardt

  2. Tufts University Boston, USDA Human Nutrition Research Centre on, 711 Washington Street, Boston, 02111, USA

    Bess Dawson-Hughes

  3. , Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, 700 W. State Street, West Lafayette, 47907, USA

    Connie Weaver

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© 2011 Springer London

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Weaver, C.M., Hill, K.M. (2011). Estimating Calcium Requirements. In: Burckhardt, P., Dawson-Hughes, B., Weaver, C. (eds) Nutritional Influences on Bone Health. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-978-7_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-978-7_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84882-977-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84882-978-7

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