Abstract 619: Dietary Calcium Intake Is Associated With Adiposity, Insulin Resistance, Hdl-cholesterol, Inflammatory State And Blood Pressure, But Not With Erythrocyte Intracellular Calcium And Endothelial Function In Healthy Premenopausal Women

Background: Recent studies suggest that dietary calcium may have beneficial effects on adiposity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and blood pressure (BP). One potential mechanism underlying these benefits involves modifications in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca 2+ ]i). Objectives: To evaluate the associations of dietary calcium with adiposity, erythrocyte [Ca 2+ ]i, metabolic profile, BP, inflammatory state and endothelial function in healthy premenopausal women. Methods: In this cross-sectional study 76 women aged 18-50 years were submitted to the evaluation of dietary intake, anthropometric parameters, body composition, erythrocyte [Ca 2+ ]i, biochemical variables, endothelial function and BP. A food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the usual dietary intake. Endothelial function was evaluated by serum concentrations of adhesion molecules and by peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) method, using Endo-PAT 2000 ® . Participants were allocated in two groups according to calcium intake: low calcium group (LCG; n=32; Results: Women in LCG compared with those in HCG exhibited, after adjustments for potential confounders (age and intake of energy, alcohol, protein, carbohydrates and lipids) higher values of body mass index (27.0 ± 1.1 vs. 25.6 ± 0.8 kg/m 2 , p = 0.02), waist circumference (87.8 ± 2.7 vs. 84.4 ± 2.1cm, p = 0.04), waist-to-height ratio (0.54 ± 0.02 vs. 0.52 ± 0.01, p = 0.02), percentage of body fat (27.0 ± 1.1 vs. 25.6 ± 0.8, p = 0.02), insulin (27.2 ± 2.9 vs. 22.6 ± 1.4 μU/ml, p = 0.02), HOMA-IR (5.7 ± 0.6 vs. 4.7 ± 0.4, p = 0.02), leptin (24.9 ± 2.5 vs. 21.5 ± 2.2ng/ml, p = 0.01) and diastolic BP (72.4 ± 2.0 vs. 68.2 ± 1.6mmHg, p = 0.04); and lower levels of HDL-cholesterol (52.9 ± 2.2 vs. 58.6 ± 1.8mg/dl, p = 0.004) and adiponectin (31.9 ± 3.5 vs. 34.6 ± 3.0μg/ml, p = 0.004). Endothelial function assessed by PAT and [Ca 2+ ]i were similar in both groups. Subjects in HCG had lower odds ratio for prevalent overweight, obesity, abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, HDL-cholesterol 120mmHg. Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that high calcium intake is inversely associated with some cardiovascular risk factors.