Question

Is it reasonable to reach RDA/AI for calcium through food intake alone during pregnancy? what methods are recommended to make sure the adequacy of calcium?

Answer 1

Answer - Daily requirements for many micronutrients during pregnancy are higher to meet the physiologic changes and increased nutritional needs of pregnancy. Good nutritional status prior to conception is also important for a healthy pregnancy.For instance, folic acid supplementation during the periconceptional period (about one month before conception until the end of the first trimester) dramatically reduces the incidence of devastating birth defects called neural tube defects (see Folate below). Thus, folic acid supplementation (at least 400 μg/day) is recommended for all women capable of becoming pregnant . A well-balanced diet throughout pregnancy is necessary to supply the developing embryo/fetus with micronutrients. In addition to folic acid supplementation, iron supplementation is generally needed to meet the increased demands for this mineral during pregnancy.

The Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) of the Institute of Medicine establishes life-stage specific dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for each micronutrient. The DRIs include the estimated average requirement (EAR), the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), the adequate intake (AI), and the tolerable upper intake level (UL). The RDA, which is the average daily dietary intake level of a nutrient sufficient to meet the requirements of almost all (97.5%) healthy individuals in a specific life stage and gender group, should be used in the planning of diets for individuals.

The application of the factorial method using average bone calcium accretion allows an estimate of the calcium intake required to support bone accretion and net calcium retention.

While there is evidence of minor bone accretion into early adulthood, the levels required to achieve this accretion which appears to be site dependent are very low. The goal, therefore, is intakes of calcium that promote bone maintenance and neutral calcium balance.

Adults 19-30 years of age ,Adults 31-50 years of needs EAR 800mg/day calcium and RDA 1000mg/day calcium.