Parental influences on calcium intake in children and their role in child supplement and calcium-fortified food use

Our objective was to understand how these influences of calcium intake relate to a sample of preadolescent's use of supplements and calcium-fortified foods. Qualitative interviews and surveys were used to conduct a prospective study to assess parental influences on preadolescent calcium supplement and fortified food use. The study population was a convenience sample of Asian (n=56), Hispanic (n=61), and white (n=74) parents (n=191) of children (10-13 years). Content analysis procedures were used to identify and code interview comments as positive, neutral, or negative parental influences. Cluster analysis was used to identify groups with similar patterns of comments and chi-square analysis was used to determine associations between groups and variables of interest. Two dominant patterns of responses defined the clusters. Cluster 1 (n=128), consisted of positive parental influences for availability of dairy foods, milk, and cheese, positive health benefit beliefs for dairy, and child preference for dairy and cheese, whereas Cluster 2 (n=63) consisted of one positive parental influence, availability of milk, while the rest remained neutral. No relationship was found between cluster membership and child supplement use. Use of calcium-fortified foods was significantly more likely to occur in children represented in Cluster 1 compared to Cluster 2. Positive parental influences were related to calcium-fortified food, but not supplement use, and will need to be considered in nutrition education.