Vegetarian Diet Info
Risks of Low Calcium in Vegan Diet
Information on Soy-Milk Calcium Bio-Availability & Absorption and Diet Nutrition for Vegans

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Vegan Diet Risks - Calcium Absorption

Makers of calcium-fortified soy milks often claim that they contain as much calcium as cow's milk. It comes as no great surprise that a new study has shown that the bio-availability of the 'fortified' calcium in soy milk is only 75 percent that of calcium in regular milk.

This is yet another reminder that chemical analysis of foods cannot tell us the amount of a nutrient actually utilised by the consumer.

Vegan Diets Relying on Soy Milks May Be Low in Calcium

Robert Heaney, author of the study, is critical of food producers who claim that supplements or added nutrients contain a certain amount of the nutrient but do not want to hear that bio-availability may be an issue. We are reminded that vegans or others who rely on non-dairy foods such as soy milk for their calcium intake will be at greater risk than previously thought of an inadequate calcium intake. This is at a time when recommended intake levels are being scaled upwards anyway.

Heany states categorically that calcium-fortified soy milk does not constitute a calcium source comparable to cow's milk, unless of course the level is increased.

Source: Heaney RP, Dowell MS, Rafferty K, and Bierman J: Bioavailability of the calcium in fortified soy imitation milk, with some observations on method Am J Clin Nutr 2000

Vegetarian Diet