Calcium intake sorely lacking in Hongkongers

Hongkongers are sorely lacking calcium in their diet, according to a recent poll of more than 1,300 people. The average intake of the vital mineral is only 574mg, a far cry from the recommended 1,000mg, found the street survey conducted in May by milk powder brand Anlene.

The results are consistent with previous studies, indicating that more education about the importance of calcium is urgently needed to prevent potentially dire consequences.

The body needs calcium not only to maintain strong bones, but also for muscles to move and for nerves to carry messages between the brain and every body part. Calcium also helps blood vessels move blood throughout the body, and helps release hormones and enzymes that affect almost every function in the body.

A lack of calcium over the long term can cause low bone mass (osteopenia) and increase the risks of osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Cheung Kai-yin says there's been an increase in bone issues in Hong Kong for the past several years, mainly affecting people older than 50. The recommended daily calcium intake for this age group is 1,200mg.

Osteoporosis, which literally means porous bone, is a major public health problem worldwide, and this burden is growing with increasing life expectancy and population ageing, according to the Osteoporosis Society of Hong Kong. It is forecast that, by 2050, more than half of all hip fractures in the world, a total of 3,250 million cases, will occur in Asia - and mostly in China.