Abstract
Background: Dairy products are major contributors of dietary calcium owing to their high calcium content, high bioavailability of calcium and frequency of consumption.
Objectives: The aim of this paper was to compare the consumption of milk products, calcium and vitamin D among a group of 3–4-year-old Estonian children in 1996 and the same children in 2002 when they were 9–11 years old.
Design: The analysis was based on 3-day dietary record data collected from children and their parents. The intakes of calcium and vitamin D were compared with the Estonian recommended daily intakes based on the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations. Nutrient analysis was done using the Finnish Micro-Nutrica programme adapted for nutrient surveys in Estonia.
Results: The mean calcium intake in both rural and urban children was above the recommended daily intake (RDI) at 3–4 years of age, while it was close to the RDI at 9–11 years of age. The mean calcium density was lower at 9–11 years of age than at 3–4 years of age. Milk and dairy products were the primary sources of calcium: in 1996 milk as a beverage contributed 66% of calcium in the diets of rural children and 44% in those of urban children. In 2002 the calcium contribution by milk as a beverage was lower (50% in rural and 39% in urban children). The mean intakes of vitamin D did not meet the RDI in either age group in either period and were below 50% of recommended levels.
Conclusions: The mean calcium density in diets of 3–4-year-olds (476 mg 1000 kcal−1) was higher than that of 9–11-year-olds (422 mg 1000 kcal−1), but the intake of foods prepared with milk declined in both areas from 1996 to 2002. The intake of vitamin D was very low in 1996 and continued to be low 6 years later. More effective nutritional educational efforts are needed to emphasize the importance of adequate calcium and vitamin D intake. Strategies including milk fortification in Estonia should be considered.