Association between calcium intake from different food sources during childhood and cardiometabolic risk on adolescence: the Generation XXI birth-cohort

Abstract

Background: Calcium intake has been associated with lower adiposity but few studies explored the longitudinal relation of calcium from different sources and cardiometabolic markers in young population. Objective: Prospectively estimate the association between dairy and non-dairy calcium intake at 4, 7, and 10 years(y) of age and cardiometabolic risk at 13y. Methods: The sample included 4,017 participants from the Generation XXI birth-cohort. Dietary data was collected from a 3-day food diary. Cardiometabolic clusters at 13y were estimated by a probabilistic Gaussian mixture model (variables: z-score of waist circumference (WC), HOMA-IR, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure (BP)). Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to estimate associations. Results: Calcium intake, after adjustment for confounders, was negatively and significantly associated with body mass index (BMI) (β=-0.02,95%CI:-0.04;-0.01), WC (β=-0.23,95%CI:-0.36;-0.11), and diastolic BP (β=-0.14,95%CI:-0.26;-0.03). After additional adjustment for energy associations loose statistical significance. Calcium intake from milk at 7y was inversely associated with WC (β=-0.25,95%CI:-0.48;-0.03), and from yogurt at 10y was associated with higher BMI (β=0.08,95%CI:0.03;0.13) and WC (β=0.54,95%CI:0.12;0.96). Calcium from vegetables at 4,7,10yrs reduces later cardiometabolic risk (OR=0.71; OR=0.84; OR=0.98, respectively). Conclusions: This study supports a protective effect of calcium on adolescents' cardiometabolic health, especially from vegetables.