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Usual intake of vitamins and minerals for vegetarians in the United States: NHANES 2003–2006
Author(s) -
Farmer Bonnie,
Larson Brian,
Fulgoni Victor L
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.745.2
Subject(s) - national health and nutrition examination survey , dietary reference intake , nutrient , medicine , population , reference daily intake , vitamin , dietary fiber , zoology , potassium , vitamin d and neurology , vitamin c , food science , phosphorus , environmental health , chemistry , biology , organic chemistry
There are no current data from national food consumption surveys for usual intake of nutrients for vegetarians. Using dietary intake from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003–2006), we determined usual nutrient intake for vegetarians using the National Cancer Institute method. Vegetarians were defined as those who did not report consuming meat, poultry, or fish on both days of the survey, representing a lacto‐ovo vegetarian dietary pattern. The percentage with intakes greater than the Adequate Intake (AI) for calcium (Ca), vitamin K, sodium (Na), dietary fiber, and potassium (K) was determined, and the percentage with inadequate intake for all other nutrients was determined. In subjects 2 to 18 years (n = 129), 26% were above the AI for Ca, 13% for vitamin K, and 1% for fiber. None of this group was above the AI for K, and 90% were above the AI for Na. Prevalence of inadequacy was high for vitamins A and E, phosphorus, magnesium (Mg), and zinc (Zn), with one‐third to one‐half having inadequate intakes. In subjects 19 years and greater (n = 168), 33% were above the AI for Ca, 51% for vitamin K, 6% for K, 24% for fiber, and 90% for Na. Prevalence of inadequacy was high for vitamins A, E, B 6 , B 12 , folate, Mg, and Zn, with one‐third to one‐half having inadequate intakes. Based on published population studies, vegetarian diets have similar nutrients of concern as the general population with the exception of vitamin C.