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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Food Surveys Research Group » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #184176
Title: WHAT WE EAT IN AMERICA, NHANES 2001-2002: USUAL NUTRIENT INTAKES FROM FOOD COMPARED TO DIETARY REFERENCE INTAKES

Author
item Moshfegh, Alanna
item Goldman, Joseph
item Cleveland, Linda

Submitted to: World Wide Web
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/23/2005
Publication Date: 9/15/2005
Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 2005. What We Eat In America, NHANES 2001-2002: Usual nutrient intakes from food compared to dietary reference intakes. Available: http://www.ars.usda.gov/ba/bhnrc/fsrg.

Interpretive Summary: Assessing the nutritional status of Americans is critical to health officials, researchers, and Federal policy makers involved in establishing dietary guidance. 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. This report, based on data from the What We Eat in America, NHANES 2001-2002, provides estimates of mean usual nutrient intakes and compares those intakes to the nutrient requirements established by the National Academy of Sciences. Nutrients identified as potential problems for many Americans include vitamins A, E, and C, and magnesium. Other nutrients that may also be of concern include vitamin K, calcium, potassium, and dietary fiber.

Technical Abstract: This report presents national estimates of usual nutrient intake distributions from food for 24 nutrients and dietary components and compares those estimates to the Dietary Reference Intakes published by the Institute of Medicine. Data are based on 8,940 individuals ages 1 year and older (excluding breast-fed children and pregnant or lactating females) who completed a 24-hour dietary recall in What We Eat In America, the dietary interview component of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2002. Data include nutrient intakes from food only and do not cover intakes from dietary supplements or over-the-counter medicines. Statistics are reported for 17 gender/age groups. Nutrients identified as potential problems include vitamins A, E, and C, and magnesium. For these nutrients, the estimated proportion of the population with inadequate intakes was relatively high (at least 25%). 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. Vitamin K, calcium, potassium, and dietary fiber, nutrients for which no Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) has been established, may also be of concern.