Calcium requirements during lactation is:

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2020

Explanation

The standard recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for calcium for lactating women (aged 19-50 years) is 1000 mg per day.
This intake is essential to meet the high demand for calcium transferred to the infant via breast milk, which is approximately 250-300 mg daily.
Consuming adequate calcium prevents the mobilization of calcium from the mother's bones, thereby reducing her risk of developing osteoporosis in the future.
Among the given choices, 1000 mg is the most accurate and widely recognized recommendation.

Option A: This amount is higher than the standard recommendation for most adult lactating women.
Option B: This amount is critically low and would not even cover the amount of calcium secreted in breast milk, leading to significant depletion of the mother's bone reserves.
Option C: This number is often confused with the additional energy (calorie) requirement during lactation.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Nutritional requirements during lactation as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a vital role in educating postpartum mothers on the importance of a nutrient-dense diet to support their own recovery and the baby's healthy growth.
Patient counseling should include practical advice on incorporating calcium-rich foods such as milk, yogurt, cheese, ragi, fortified cereals, and dark leafy greens into their daily diet.
What if? If the mother follows a vegan diet, the nurse must provide specific guidance on plant-based calcium sources (e.g., fortified soy/almond milk, tofu, sesame seeds, leafy greens) and strongly recommend consultation for a possible calcium supplement to meet the 1000 mg/day requirement.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'Calcium requirements' and 'lactation'.
Recognize this as a factual recall question that requires knowledge of specific nutritional guidelines.
Mentally review the recommended dietary allowances for a lactating woman.
Carefully differentiate the requirement for calcium (measured in mg) from other nutritional values, especially energy (measured in kcal), as these numbers can be similar and cause confusion.
Evaluate the given options and select the one that matches the standard RDA for calcium.
If unsure, try to eliminate obviously incorrect options. 250 mg is too low, and 550 is a number associated with calories, not calcium.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Qas_s-xZljsrvgVaoVmC-z

E6 Nutrition Kumud Khanna 2e pp. 105-107, 106-108

E6 textbook of Applied Biochemistry and Nutrition & DieteticsHarbans Lal (pp 26-464 of 479) p. 348-350

Practise the full RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2020

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.