Does inadequate calcium intake confer a higher risk for EBLLs?
Animal studies have shown higher lead retention in animals fed low-calcium diets, raising the possibility that low-calcium diets could affect the BLLs of humans (42-45). Furthermore, studies of radiolabeled lead absorption in human adults show lower absorption of lead when lead is co-administered with calcium (46, 47). In 89 metabolic balance studies of 12 infants, dietary calcium intake was found to be inversely associated with lead retention (48). As the authors noted, however, dietary calcium intake closely paralleled the intake of phosphorus and other unmeasured components of milk and formula, so it is difficult to attribute this effect solely to calcium. In NHANES II (1976 – 1980), calcium intake was inversely associated with BLLs in a nationally representative sample of children aged 3 to 11 years (49). The analysis included good controls for children’s socioeconomic status, region of the country, and urban vs. rural residence. Results of this analysis showed that children’s calc
