Last updated on 7-7-2025 by Thérésa Lebacq
Why do we study calcium intake?
- Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, making up the structure of bones and teeth and enabling healthy body movements by keeping tissue rigid, strong, and flexible. It contributes to bone health and osteoporosis prevention. A small ionized pool of calcium is also found in the circulatory system, extracellular fluid, as well as several tissues. It serves to mediate blood vessel contraction and dilation, plays a crucial role for proper muscle contraction, nerve transmission and blood clotting.
- A lack of calcium may lead to rickets in children, and osteomalacia or osteoporosis in later life, while too much calcium may contribute to stomach pain and diarrhea.
- Dietary sources of calcium include milk, cheese and other dairy foods, green leafy vegetables (e.g., kale and okra, but not spinach), soya drinks with added calcium, bread and food made with fortified flour, fish where one can eat the bones (e.g., sardines and pilchards), hard mineral water and, to a lesser extent, nuts, seeds, whole grains and legumes.
- On the one hand, a balanced diet without suppletion generally provides sufficient calcium, except for pregnant women. On the other hand, excessive intake of calcium should be avoided, as it is linked to impaired kidney function and gastrointestinal issues.
How do we study it?
- The prevalence of inadequate calcium intake from food and supplements, was estimated as the proportion of individuals with an habitual calcium intake below the reference values set by EFSA: 390 mg/day for children aged 3, 680mg/day for children aged 4-10 years, 960mg/day for adolescents aged 11-17 years, 860 mg/day for adults aged 18 to 24 years, and 750 mg/day for adults aged 25 years and above.
- Habitual intake of calcium was analysed using the SPADE® program. A detailed description of the methodology for deriving the habitual calcium intake, the type of reference values used and the age-and-gender-specific values of these references can be found here.
- Due to statistical limitations, the results for calcium cannot be presented by educational level or region.
KEY RESULTS
Men have a higher mean calcium intake from food and supplements (742 mg/day) than women (692 mg/day)
The proportion of adolescents with an inadequate calcium intake from food is higher (86%) than that of other age groups (between 63% and 66%)
The mean calcium intake decreased from 2014-2015 to 2022-2023, while the proportion of the population presenting inadequate intake increased from 2014-2015 to 2022-2023
Milk, milk-based products and substitutes contribute 44% to calcium intake in the population followed by non-alcoholic beverages (14%), and cereals and cereal products (9%)
Proportion of the population consuming a calcium-containing supplement
7% of the population in Belgium aged 3 years and older uses a calcium-containing supplement.
By sex
Mean calcium intake (mg/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- The mean calcium intake from food in the population is 695 mg/day, while the mean intake from food and supplements is 718 mg/day.
- The mean calcium intake from food is lower in women (656 mg/day) than in men (731 mg/day).
- This difference between sex is also observed when the intake from food and supplements is considered, with an intake of 742 mg/day in men and 692 mg/day in women.
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with inadequate calcium intake, by sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Results are based on dietary reference values defined as average requirements (AR).
- 67% of the population has an inadequate calcium intake from food. This proportion is higher in women (73%) than in men (61%).
- The proportion of the population with an inadequate calcium intake from food and supplements remains similar to the proportion observed when the intake from food only is considered. The difference between sexes is still observed, with 69% of women and 60% of men having an inadequate calcium intake from food and supplements.
By age
Mean calcium intake (mg/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by age, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- The mean calcium intake from food is lower in children (639 mg/day) and adolescents (667 mg/day) than in adults aged 18-64 years (715 mg/day). In addition, the mean calcium intake from food is lower in children than in adults aged 65 years and above (680 mg/day).
- The mean calcium intake from food and supplements increases slightly with age and is lower in children (641 mg/day) and adolescents (669 mg/day) than in adults aged 18-64 years (727 mg/day) and in adults aged 65 years and above (751 mg/day).
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with inadequate calcium intake, by age, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Results are based on dietary reference values defined as average requirements (AR).
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- The proportion of the population with an inadequate calcium intake from food is similar in children (63%), adults aged 18-64 years (63%), and adults aged 65 years and above (66%). This proportion is particularly high in adolescents, with 86 % presenting an inadequate calcium intake from food.
- A similar pattern is observed when the intake from food and supplements is considered.
By year
Mean calcium intake (mg/day) in the population aged 3 to 64 years, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- The mean calcium intake from food only in the population aged 3 to 64 years decreased from 758 mg/day in 2014-2015 to 699 mg/day in 2022-2023.
- Similarly, the mean calcium intake from food and supplements decreased from 768 mg/day in 2014-2015 to 709 mg/day in 2022-2023.
Proportion of the population aged 3 to 64 years with inadequate calcium intake, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Results are based on dietary reference values defined as average requirements (AR).
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- The proportion of the population with inadequate calcium intake from food only increased from 58% in 2014-2015 to 67% in 2022-2023.
- A similar pattern is observed for the proportion of persons having an inadequate calcium intake from food and supplements, with an increase from 57% in 2014-2015 to 66% in 2022-2023.
Contribution of food and supplements
Contribution of foods and supplements to calcium intake, in the population aged 3 years and older, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Milk, milk-based products and substitutes contribute 44% to calcium intake in the population, followed by non-alcoholic beverages (14%) – such as mineral water, chicory drinks, and ready-made coffees with added milk (e.g., cappuccino, iced coffee) –, and cereals and cereal products (9%).
- Dietary supplements account for 2% of total calcium intake.
Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Micronutrients: Calcium, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, June 2025, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-national-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/micronutrients-minerals-and-trace-elements/calcium