561 DIETARY CALCIUM AND BLOOD LEAD IN 3513 ONE TO ELEVEN YEAR OLD BLACK AND WHITE CHILDREN: THE NHANES II STUDY

Abstract

Whether, and to what degree, dietary calcium is inversely associated with blood lead levels was examined in 3,513 one to eleven year old black and white children from the NHANES II survey. The data analysis took into account the sampling weights and the stratified design of the NHANES II survey. Blood lead levels were significantly higher in black than in white children, while in contrast, white children had significantly higher dietary calcium intake. In a multiple regression analysis, race (black) and sex (male) were positively associated with blood lead - (p<0.0001 for both). The lower the family income and the more urban the family residence, the higher blood levels were (p<.0001, <.02). Height was Inversely associated with blood lead (p<0.0001); dietary calcium intake was significantly and inversely associated with blood lead (p=0.025). Given the relative imprecision of the 24-hour dietary recall as a tool to quantitate calcium intake, and the relative precision of the other explanatory variables for blood lead including race, sex, poverty class, urban class and height, the finding that dietary calcium was significantly inversely associated with blood lead levels was all the more marked. The most direct strategy for prevention of childhood lead poisoning involves primary prevention to reduce exposure. However, increasing calcium intake might have value in secondary prevention of relative and absolute lead intoxication, particularly in low income black and white urban dwellers.

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