Abstract
Objective
The aim of the study was to assess factors influencing the intake and plasma levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) in an adult population from southern Spain, in order to identify patterns of intake and groups at risk for deficiency.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Andalusia, a western Mediterranean region in southern Spain. Nutrient intakes were studied in a random sample of 3,421 subjects (1,747 men, 1,674 women) between 25 and 60 years of age. Blood samples were obtained for biochemical assays in a random subsample of 354 subjects (170 men, 184 women). Food consumption was assessed by a 48-h recall. Concentrations of Ca, P and Mg were measured in plasma. Information about level of education, smoking habit, alcohol consumption and physical exercise was collected with a structured questionnaire.
Results
Intakes were below two-thirds of the RDA in 39.52% of the sample for Ca, and in 32.31% for Mg. Gender, age, educational level, obesity, smoking, alcohol use and physical activity were associated with differences in nutrient intakes. Plasma concentrations were below the reference value in 14.81% of the sample for Ca, and in 8.82% for Mg. Obese persons [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2] consumed less Ca, P and Mg, and had lower plasma Ca concentrations (P < 0.05) than non-obese persons. BMI showed an inverse correlation with plasma concentrations of Ca (r = −0.21, P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Our results provide an estimate of the intake of Ca, P and Mg in the adult population of southern Spain. Of the factors that affected the intake of these nutrients, logistic regression analysis showed that only female gender and older age were associated with the risk of low plasma Ca concentrations.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Varela G, Moreiras O, Carbajal A, Campo M (1995) Encuestas de presupuestos familiares 1990–1991: Estudio nacional de nutricional y alimentación 1991. Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid
Agudo A, Pera G, the EPIC Group of Spain (1999) Vegetable and fruit consumption associated with anthropometric, dietary and lifestyle factors in Spain. Public Health Nutr 2:263–270
Henriquez P, Díaz C, Rodríguez E, López F, Álvarez E, Díaz J, Pastor MC, Serra L (2000) Biochemical assessment of nutritional status in the Canary Island population. Archiv Latinoam Nutr 50:(Suppl 1) 43–53
Mataix J, López-Frías M, Martínez de Victoria E, López-Jurado M, Aranda P, Llopis J (2005) Factors associated with obesity in an adult Mediterranean population: influence on plasma lipid profile. J Am Coll Nutr 24:456–465
Instituto de Estadística de Andalucía (IEA) (2001) Andalucía. Datos Básicos. Consejería de Economía y Hacienda, Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/institutodeestadistica/
Moreiras O, Carbajal A, Cabrera L, Cuadrado C (2004) Ingestas recomendadas de energía y nutrientes para la población española (revisadas 2002). In: Moreiras O, Carbajal A, Cabrera L, Cuadrado C (eds) Tablas de composición de alimentos. Ediciones Pirámide, Madrid
Institute of Medicine (1997) Dietary reference intakes for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D and fluoride. National Academy of Sciences (eds) National Academic Press, Washington, DC
Sauberlich HE (1999) Laboratory tests for the assessment of nutritional status. CRC Press Boca Raton FL, p 313
Hannon EM, Kiely M, Harrington KE, Robson PJ, Strain JJ, Flynn A (2001) The North/South Ireland food consumption survey: mineral intakes in 18–64 years-old adults. Public Health Nutr 4:1081–1088
Kudlacek S, Schneider B, Peterlik M, Leb G, Klaushofer K, Weber K, Woloszczuk W, Willvonseder R (2003) Assessment of vitamin D and calcium status in healthy adult Austrians. Eur J Clin Invest 33:323–331
Elmadfa I, Freisling MH (2003) Austrian nutrition report. Institute of nutritional Sciences, University of Viena, Federal Ministry of Health and Women, Viena
Kesteloot H, Joossens J (1988) Relationhip of dietary sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium with blood pressure. Belgian interuniversity research on nutrition and health. Hypertension 12:594–599
Noel L, Leblanc JC, Guerin T (2003) Determination of several elements in duplicate meals from catering establishments using closed vessel microwave digestion with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection: estimation of daily dietary intake. Food Addit Contam 20:44–56
Ysart G, Miller P, Crews H, Robb P, Baxter M, De L’Argy C, Lofthouse S, Sargent C, Harrison N (1999) Dietary exposure estimates of 30 elements from the UK total diet study. Food Addit Contam 16:391–403
Henderson L, Irving K, Gregory J (2003) The national diet & nutrition survey: adults aged 19 to 64 years. Vitamine and mineral intake and urinary analytes. http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/ndnsv3.pdf
Hajjar I, Kotchen T (2003) Regional variations of blood pressure in the United States are associated with regional variations in dietary intakes: the NHANES-III data. J Nutr 133:211–214
Ford ES, Mokdad AH, (2003) Dietary magnesium intake in a national sample of U.S. adults. J Nutr 133:2879–2882
Serra-Manjem L, Ribas L, García R et al (1996) The evaluation of nutritional status in Catalonia, Spain (1992–93). Departament de Sanitat i Seguretat Social. Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona
Biesalski HK, Brummer RJ, Köing J, O’Connell MA, Rechkemmer G, Stos K, Thurnham DI (2003) Micronutrient deficiencies. Eur J Nutr 42:353–363
Durlach J (1988) Magnesium in clinical practice. John Libbey, Paris
Swinburn BA, Caterson I, Seidell JC, James WPT (2004) Diet, nutrition and the prevention of excess weight gain and obesity. Public Health Nutr 7:123–146
Zemel MB (2003) Role of dietary calcium and dairy products in modulating adiposity. Lipids 38:139–146
Kamycheva E, Joakimsen RM, Jorde R (2003) Intakes of calcium and vitamin D predict body mass index in the population of Northern Norway. J Nutr 133:102–106
Beitz R, Mensink G, Henschel Y, Fischer B, Erbersdobler HF (2004) Dietary behaviour of German adults differing in levels of sport activity. Public Health Nutr 7:45–52
Tucker KL (2003) Dietary intake and bone status with aging. Curr Pharmaceut Design 9:2687–2704
Durlach J, Bac P, Durlach V, Rayssiguier Y, Bara M, Guiet-Bara A (1997) Magnesium status and ageing: an update. Magnes Res 11:25–37
Acknowledgement
We thank the Andalusian Regional Government for their support, and K. Shashok for translating parts of the manuscript into English.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mataix, J., Aranda, P., López-Jurado, M. et al. Factors influencing the intake and plasma levels of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in southern Spain. Eur J Nutr 45, 349–354 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-006-0605-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-006-0605-z