Analysis of consumption status of calcium with related factors in a Korean population: Based on data from the 2013∼2015 Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (KNHANES)

This study was performed to investigate the consumption status of calcium with related factors among Koreans based on the sixth stage of the KNHANES (2013∼2015). The study included 17,875 subjects (≥6 years old) who participated in a 24 h-diet-recall. Calcium consumption data of all participants were statistically compared with possible influencing factors such as demographic factors, nutritional factors and disease-related factors. The results were expressed as ‘Under’ or ‘Over’ depending on the calcium consumption status of the participants compared to the estimated average requirement (EAR) for calcium in the Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (2015). The Over male ratio was 29.5%, while that of the female ratio was 26.5%. Additionally, the number of respondents who consumed less than the EAR was significantly lower among females, especially those between 12 and 18 years of age and over 65 years of age. Moreover, gender, marital status, number of families, household income level, alcohol consumption, effort to control weight, subjective body recognition, osteoarthritis, back pain, morning and lunch meal frequency, external meal frequency, eating place, and eating type significantly influenced calcium consumption status. In addition, carbohydrate, lipid, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, vitamin A, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, and vitamin C were significantly higher in Over group. Korean calcium intake is very low (Over group average=28.0% and Under group average=72.0%, but food that provides calcium to Koreans is limited. Therefore, it would be necessary to develop programs to improve eating habits and food as well as to provide governmental policy regarding improving calcium consumption of Koreans.