Most people not getting enough Vitamin D, Magnesium, and Vitamin E – Aug 2011

Foods, Fortificants, and Supplements: Where Do Americans Get Their Nutrients?

J Nutr. 2011 Aug 26.
Fulgoni VL 3rd, Keast DR, Bailey RL, Dwyer J.
Nutrition Impact LLC, Battle Creek, MI.

Limited data are available on the source of usual nutrient intakes in the United States. This analysis aimed to assess contributions of micronutrients to usual intakes derived from all sources (naturally occurring, fortified and enriched, and dietary supplements) and to compare usual intakes to the Dietary Reference Intake for U.S. residents aged ?2 y according to NHANES 2003-2006 (n = 16,110). We used the National Cancer Institute method to assess usual intakes of 19 micronutrients by source.

Only a small percentage of the population had total usual intakes (from dietary intakes and supplements) below the estimated average requirement (EAR) for the following: vitamin B-6 (8%), folate (8%), zinc (8%), thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-12, phosphorus, iron, copper, and selenium (<6% for all).

However, more of the population had total usual intakes below the EAR for vitamins A, C, D, and E (34, 25, 70, and 60%, respectively), calcium (38%), and magnesium (45%). Only 3 and 35% had total usual intakes of potassium and vitamin K, respectively, greater than the adequate intake. Enrichment and/or fortification largely contributed to intakes of vitamins A, C, and D, thiamin, iron, and folate. Dietary supplements further reduced the percentage of the population consuming less than the EAR for all nutrients. The percentage of the population with total intakes greater than the tolerable upper intake level (UL) was very low for most nutrients, whereas 10.3 and 8.4% of the population had intakes greater than the UL for niacin and zinc, respectively. Without enrichment and/or fortification and supplementation, many Americans did not achieve the recommended micronutrient intake levels set forth in the Dietary Reference Intake.

The taller the bar, the more deficient for those older than 19 (one of many charts in the attached PDF)

PMID: 21865568

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See also Vitamin D Life

• Overview Magnesium and vitamin D
• All items in category Magnesium 259 items
• All items in category Deficiency of Vitamin D Deficiency 363 items
• If you add Omega-3, also add Vitamin E to protect it – Aug 2015