Calcium and iron intake between college aged female dancers and non-dancers

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate if there was a difference in the dietary intake of calcium and iron between female college aged dancers and non-dancers. Three day food records of 18 dancers and 21 non-dancers were analyzed for calcium and iron using Nutritionist IV computer software. Though not statistically significant dancers had a higher intake of calcium than non-dancers (864.7 mg/d vs. 796.2 mg/d) The main sources of calcium for both groups was milk followed by cheese. Mean daily intake of iron for dancers and non-dancers was 16.9 mg/d and 16.5 mg/d respectively. Grains were the main source of iron for both groups. A participants survey was used to collect descriptive data such as height, weight, smoking status, hours spent exercising , use of multivitamin supplements and nutrition course attended. Five dancers and four non-dancers took multivitamin plus mineral supplements. Reasons for use of supplements were: perceived notion that supplements provided energy and participants thought their diet was inadequate. The dietary habits of 38 % of the non-dancers who had previously had a nutrition course was not positively influenced by nutrition education.