Calcium
Calcium is an essential mineral in building and maintaining strong, healthy bones & teeth. The main benefits of calcium are;
- assisting growth & maintenance of strong, healthy bones
- building & supporting the development of strong, healthy teeth
- helping to achieve peak bone mass
- assisting the prevention & treatment of osteoporosis
- Almost three quarters of women and half of men have inadequate intakes of calcium1.
Sources of dietary calcium are dairy (milk, yoghurt, cheese), fish, green vegetables & nuts.
The daily Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) for calcium is relatively similar for men and women throughout life, per the below table2.
| Age | AI |
|---|---|
| 0-6 mths | 210 mg |
| 7-12 mths | 270 mg |
| Age | Boys | Girls |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 yr | 500 mg | |
| 4-8 yr | 700 mg | |
| 9-11 yr | 1,000 mg | 1,000 mg |
| 12-18 yr | 1,300 mg | 1,300 mg |
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 19-50 yr | 1,000 mg | 1,000 mg |
| 51+ yr | 1,000 mg | 1,300 mg |
1 4364.0.55.008 - Australian Health Survey: Usual Nutrient Intakes, 2011-12