Association of dietary calcium intake with risk of falls in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults

Objectives: Although calcium supplementation is reported to play a role in preventing falls, few studies have examined the relationship between dietary intake of calcium and falls. Therefore, this study investigated the association of calcium intake with falls in community-dwelling adults.

Design: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of a prospective cohort study.

Setting and participants: A 5-year follow-up of a community-based cohort study was conducted with participants aged 40 years or older (mean age, 63.1 years). The cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses included 38,566 and 24,066 participants, respectively.

Measurements: Dietary calcium intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire, with energy adjustment. The outcome was any falls in the preceding year, which were recorded in the self-administered questionnaire. The association of calcium intake with falls was estimated by multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results: The median intake of dietary calcium was 463 mg/day and 577 mg/day in men and women, respectively. In the cross-sectional analysis, lower intake of dietary calcium was associated with falls. The adjusted odds ratio for falls in the lowest quartile versus the highest quartile was found to be 1.29 (95%CI, 1.16, 1.45) in men and 1.12 (95%CI, 1.01, 1.25) in women. The results of the longitudinal analysis were consistent, with the adjusted odds ratio for falls in the lowest quartile versus the highest quartile being 1.20 (95%CI, 1.04, 1.40) in men and 1.23 (95%CI, 1.09, 1.39) in women.

Conclusions: Lower intake of dietary calcium was associated with a higher risk of falls. Adequate intake of dietary calcium might help to reduce the occurrence of falls.