Calcium intake and its relationship with adiposity and insulin resistance in post-pubertal adolescents

Background Dietary calcium intake has been described as being a negative contributor to adiposity. in adolescents, this relationship is not well established. the objectives of the present study were to compare the calcium intake of normal-weight and obese adolescents and to evaluate its relationship with adiposity and insulin resistance.Methods A cross-sectional analysis of 96 post-pubertal adolescents; 47 normal weight and 49 obese, mean age 16.6 (SD +/- 1.3) years. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Dietary intake was evaluated using a 3-day dietary record. the biochemical evaluation comprised the measurements of serum lipids, lipoproteins, glucose and insulin. Insulin resistance was calculated using the Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).Results the mean calcium intake, adjusted for energy, was lower in obese adolescents, 585.2 (+/- 249.9) mg, than in normal weight adolescents, 692.1 (+/- 199.5) mg. Only 4% of adolescents had an adequate intake of calcium. Calcium intake was inversely associated with body trunk fat, insulin and HOMA-IR in the obese group. the quartile analysis of calcium intake provided evidence that girls in the highest quartile had decreased adiposity and insulin resistance.Conclusions This study showed a negative relationship between calcium intake and body fat and insulin resistance, mainly in obese girls, and demonstrates the importance of an increased dietary calcium intake.Univ São Paulo, Dept Nutr, Sch Publ Hlth, BR-01246904 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Adolescent Div, Dept Pediat, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Adolescent Div, Dept Pediat, São Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc