Advisor

Calcium is an essential nutrient required for normal growth and development of the skeleton and teeth. Adequate calcium intake is critical during early adolescence to optimize peak bone mass and decrease the risk of osteoporosis later in life. Previous researchers, however, have concluded that adolescent girls consume insufficient calcium to meet the demands of rapid skeletal growth. National surveys conducted prior to 1997 showed that t.he major sources of calcium for adolescent girls were milk and milk products. Shortly after the new Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI's) for calcium were released in 1997, calcium fortified foods became more readily available on the market. Sources of calcium and calcium intake levels of adolescent girls need to be reassessed to determine the role of calcium-fortified foods, which are increasing in prevalence in the food supply. This research is part of the Seasonal Bone Study, a longitudinal, observational study of bone mineralization in adolescent girls at the University of Maine. The specific hypothesis tested was that the total calcium intake of adolescent girls is significantly greater than in the past, and that calcium-fortified foods are a significant source of dietar