We would like to know the amount of calcium needed daily for a person according to his age, gender, and weight.

We are the Lebanese Osteoporosis Prevention Society (LOPS). Our concern among others is to provide awareness to our society about osteoporosis and how to prevent it. We are very interested in your articles about osteoporosis and the optimal calcium intake. We would like to have documents, questionnaires or protocols about the detection of the amount of calcium needed daily for a person according to his age, gender, and weight. We will be very thankful if you can give us such information.

Calcium requirements in the U.S. are determined by the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), National Academy of Sciences of the National Research Council. These recommendations are published on a periodic basis and the last RDAs were published in 2004. You can read about calcium requirements in the U.S. online or purchase the Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride

The best method to assess bone calcium is DEXA (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry). I would recommend you contact the US National Osteoporosis Foundation for coordination with your organization needs.

The U.S. also gathers information about food intake by its citizens which would include an assessment of calcium intake. The results of these nutritional surveys are available online or CD-ROM for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES latest is 2009 -2010), the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII 1994 to 1998) and the Diet and Health Knowledge Survey (DHKS from 1994 -1996).< /div>