Objective: To become familiar with current scientific literature on a variety of nutrition topics and to gain experience in gathering, organizing, critically evaluating, presenting and facilitating group discussion of the literature and the implications to practice.
Results from this study illustrate that calcium supplement users generally consumed higher amounts of dietary calcium that nonusers. Discuss some reasons why this might occur.
posted by Anonymous @ 4:42 PM
10 comments
10 Comments:
It is possible that people who spend the time and money to consume a supplement are probably more conscious of the importance of reaching their calcium needs daily. Due to their awareness, these types of individuals may also be choosing foods richer in calcium. They could also be consuming calcium fortified foods such as cereals and juices.
I think it's possible that the people who decide to take calcium supplements are better informed than those that do not. They may be more aware of their needs and the role calcium plays in supporting bone health. Maybe some of the people have already experienced problems and their doctor recommended increasing intake through diet and supplements?
I think people who take supplements are generally more aware of their calcium needs than those who don't. Someone who takes calcium may have been advised to do so by their doctor and they may have been educated on calcium rich foods. They may have osteopenia or osteoporosis and they are really focused on preventing future problems. There could be many other reasons as well. For example, media, friends, or family may play a role in one's influence to take a calcium supplement and consume higher calcium foods.
There is a general agreement so far that people who take calcium supplements are more aware of their health and therefore could lead to this difference. I completely agree with this statement. Another reason could be suggestions from their doctor, osteoporosis, etc. that is encouraging them to get an adequate intake of calcium in their diet.
Maybe the people who are taking a supplement are more health conscious or aware of the importance of a balanced diet. People who are taking a supplement might also have been told by their doctor or RD that they should consider a supplement. This population might have been given education on calcium rich foods as well.
Typically, I think individuals who consume calcium supplements are those that know the benefits and needs of calcium in the diet. Like Kathy said, they may be more aware of calcium if they are already taking a supplement. It is possible that people consume more Ca foods because a great percentage of the Ca from the supplement is not fully absorbed if taken all at once. (example taking a 1000mg supplement once a day versus splitting it into 500mg taken twice a day)
Kevin, your statement really tied the idea about why individuals with medically increased calcium needs could also be consuming more calcium in the diet. Indeed it is very possible that these people could have been educated by someone about which foods to include in the diet to also help increase their calcium intake.
I think this may be due to the fact that they are aware of their calcium needs and try to consume dietary sources as well as supplement calcium. Studies show that people who supplement are more likely to consume a healthy diet and this study supports those results. At risk groups for calcium deficiencies may have also received education on dietary sources and supplementation of calcium.
When I think about why someone is taking a calcium supplement I would assume its because their doctor has informed them to, they have a history of osteoporosis, or maybe their favorite celeb on TV told them they should when they are older. Sometimes people have the thought that if some if good, more is better. As most of you said they are probably consuming calcium rich foods as well or possibly supplementing more than they need.
Calcium supplements pack large amounts of calcium,sometimes beyond the need, into an easily consumable pill or powder, this makes reaching needs easy and convienent. However this does not address absorption or utilization of that calcium.
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