ARS | Publication request: AMERICA'S NUTRITION REPORT CARD: COMPARING NUTRIENT INTAKES TO DIETARY REFERENCE INTAKES

Submitted to: Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 20, 2006
Publication Date: March 26, 2006
Citation: Moshfegh, A.J., Goldman, J.D., Cleveland, L.E. 2006. America's nutrition report card: Comparing nutrient intakes to dietary reference intakes [abstract]. The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal. 20(4):A179.

Technical Abstract: Assessing the nutritional status of Americans is critical to health officials, researchers, and Federal policymakers involved in establishing dietary guidance and programs. How the diets of Americans measure up to dietary standards to maintain health and prevent chronic disease provide the foundation to assure the nutritional well-being of the U.S. population. Dietary data from 8,940 individuals 1+ years of age (excluding breastfed infants and pregnant or lactating females) collected in What We Eat in America, NHANES 2001-2002 were analyzed to determine estimates of mean usual nutrient intakes and compared to the nutrient requirements established by the National Academy of Sciences. Most Americans had inadequate intakes of vitamin E based on their Estimated Average Requirement. Other nutrients identified as potential problems for many Americans include vitamins A and C, and magnesium. For these nutrients, the estimated proportion of the population with inadequate intakes was also high at least one-third to one-half. This does not include nutrients that may be a problem for certain segments of the population such as vitamin B6 for adult females, phosphorus for preteen and teenage females, and zinc for older adult males and females and teenage girls. Vitamin K, calcium, potassium, and dietary fiber, nutrients for which no Estimated Average Requirement has been established, may also be of concern.