ARS | Publication request: USDA DATABASE OF VITAMIN A (MCG RAE) AND VITAMIN E (MG AT) FOR NATIONAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION EXAMINATION SURVEY 1999-2000

Submitted to: Worldwide Web Site: Food Surveys Research Group
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: March 15, 2006
Publication Date: March 31, 2006
Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 2006. USDA database of vitamin A (mcg RAE)and vitamin E (mg AT) for National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000. Available: http://www.ars.usda.gov/ba/bhnrc/fsrg.

Interpretive Summary: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2002 includes food intake values for vitamin A in the current Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) units for recommended intakes for individuals as micrograms of retinol activity equivalents (mcg RAE), and for vitamin E as milligrams of alpha-tocopherol (mg AT), whereas NHANES 1999-2000 used the former units – mcg retinol equivalents (RE) for vitamin A and mg of alpha tocopherol equivalents (mg ATE) for vitamin E. The new database of vitamin A (mcg RAE) and vitamin E (mg AT) values will permit users to estimate the intake of the two vitamins in the current DRI units using NHANES 1999-2000 intake data and combine with NHANES 2001-2002 to produce estimates with greater statistical reliability. Values are present in the database for 4,311 foods and represent the amounts of the two vitamins in 100 grams of the edible portion of each food. The database will be available for download from the Food Surveys Research Group Web Site. This will enable researchers, nutritionists, and public health policymakers to study trends in the intake of the two vitamins, and compare NHANES 1999-2000 intakes to the current dietary recommendations.

Technical Abstract: Current dietary reference intakes (DRI) for recommended intakes for individuals for vitamin A are expressed as micrograms of retinol activity equivalents (mcg RAE), and for vitamin E as milligrams of alpha-tocopherol (mg AT). Previously, recommendations were expressed as micrograms of retinol equivalents (mcg RE) for vitamin A and milligrams of alpha tocopherol equivalents (mg ATE) for vitamin E. What We Eat in America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2002 includes food intake values for the two vitamins in the current DRI units, whereas NHANES 1999-2000 used the former units. A special database of vitamin A (mcg RAE) and vitamin E (mg AT) values has been developed for use with NHANES 1999-2000, so that intake estimates for that survey can be calculated in the current units. This will permit data from the two survey periods to be combined, as recommended in the NHANES analytical guidelines to produce estimates with greater statistical reliability. Values are present in the database for 4,311 foods and represent the amounts of the two vitamins in 100 grams of the edible portion of each food. The database will be available for download from the Food Surveys Research Group Web Site.