Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Calcium in the European Union
The European Union does not have a unified RDA for calcium; instead, individual EU member states set their own recommendations, though most align with international guidelines of 700-800 mg/day for adults over 65 years. 1
EU-Specific Calcium Recommendations
The European Community expert committee established the following RDA for calcium in their Report on Osteoporosis-Action on Prevention 1:
- Adults aged 65 years and older: 700-800 mg/day 1
This recommendation differs from U.S. guidelines, which recommend higher intakes (1000-1200 mg/day for similar age groups). 2, 3
Context: EU vs. U.S. Guidelines
The European approach to calcium recommendations is more conservative than U.S. guidelines. While the U.S. Institute of Medicine recommends 1000 mg/day for adults 19-50 years and 1200 mg/day for women over 50 and all adults over 70 2, 3, European recommendations for elderly populations remain at 700-800 mg/day. 1
Current Calcium Intake in Europe
The SENECA study, which evaluated dietary calcium intake in elderly people from 19 towns across 10 European countries, revealed significant deficiencies 1:
- Approximately one-third of elderly Europeans consume very low dietary calcium: 300-600 mg/day in women and 350-700 mg/day in men 1
- This widespread inadequacy highlights the gap between actual intake and recommended levels across the EU
Vitamin D Co-Supplementation in EU Guidelines
European guidelines emphasize that calcium supplementation must be accompanied by adequate vitamin D for effectiveness. 1
- The EU RDA for vitamin D is 400-800 IU (10-20 mcg) daily for people aged 65 years or older 1
- This combination of 700-800 mg calcium plus 400-800 IU vitamin D is considered "an effective, safe and cheap means of preventing osteoporotic fractures" in elderly Europeans 1
Practical Implementation for EU Populations
Dietary sources should be prioritized over supplements to meet calcium requirements. 1 The main dietary sources of calcium in European diets include:
- Dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese)
- Fish with bones (sardines)
- Select vegetables and fruits 1
When dietary sources are insufficient or not well tolerated, calcium supplementation should be used to bridge the gap to the 700-800 mg/day target. 1
Safety Considerations
Calcium supplementation is generally well tolerated in European populations, with reports of significant side effects being rare. 1 The recommended doses of 700-800 mg/day are considered safe and free of side effects when combined with vitamin D supplementation. 1
Important Caveat
There is no single, harmonized EU-wide RDA for calcium. Individual member states may have their own national recommendations that differ from the European Community expert committee's guidelines. The 700-800 mg/day recommendation represents the consensus from the European Community's Report on Osteoporosis-Action on Prevention, but clinicians should also consult their specific country's national guidelines. 1