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. 2009 Nov 12:53.
doi: 10.3402/fnr.v53i0.2038.

Intake of selected nutrients from foods, from fortification and from supplements in various European countries

Albert Flynn  1 , Tero Hirvonen, Gert B M Mensink, Marga C Ocké, Lluis Serra-Majem, Katarzyna Stos, Lucjan Szponar, Inge Tetens, Aida Turrini, Reg Fletcher, Tanja Wildemann
Affiliations

Intake of selected nutrients from foods, from fortification and from supplements in various European countries

Albert Flynn et al. Food Nutr Res. .

Abstract

Background: Recent European Union regulation requires setting of maximum amount of micronutrients in dietary supplements or foods taking into account the tolerable upper intake level (ULs) established by scientific risk assessment and population reference intakes.

Objective: To collect and evaluate recently available data on intakes of selected vitamins and minerals from conventional foods, food supplements and fortified foods in adults and children. Intake of calcium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, folic acid, niacin and total vitamin A/retinol, B(6), D and E was derived from nationally representative surveys in Denmark, Germany, Finland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. Intake of high consumers, defined as the 95th percentile of each nutrient, was compared to the UL.

Results: For most nutrients, adults and children generally consume considerably less than the UL with exceptions being retinol, zinc, iodine, copper and magnesium. The major contributor to intakes for all nutrients and in all countries is from foods in the base diet. The patterns of food supplements and voluntary fortification vary widely among countries with food supplements being responsible for the largest differences in total intakes. In the present study, for those countries with data on fortified foods, fortified foods do not significantly contribute to higher intakes for any nutrient. Total nutrient intake expressed as percentage of the UL is generally higher in children than in adults.

Conclusion: The risk of excessive intakes is relatively low for the majority of nutrients with a few exceptions. Children are the most vulnerable group as they are more likely to exhibit high intakes relative to the UL. There is a need to develop improved methods for estimating intakes of micronutrients from fortified foods and food supplements in future dietary surveys.

Keywords: EU legislation; adults; children; micronutrients; upper safe levels.

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Figures

<i>Fig. 1</i>.
Fig. 1.
(a) Calcium intake from the base diet. (b) Calcium intake from the base diet plus supplements.
<i>Fig. 2</i>.
Fig. 2.
(a) Copper intake from the base diet. (b) Copper intake from the base diet plus supplements.
<i>Fig. 3</i>.
Fig. 3.
(a) Iodine intake from the base diet. (b) Iodine intake from the base diet plus supplements.
<i>Fig. 4</i>.
Fig. 4.
(a) Iron intake from the base diet. (b) Iron intake from the base diet plus supplements.
<i>Fig. 5</i>.
Fig. 5.
(a) Magnesium intake from the base diet. (b) Magnesium intake from supplements.
<i>Fig. 6</i>.
Fig. 6.
(a) Phosphorus intake from the base diet. (b) Phosphorus intake from the base diet plus supplements.
<i>Fig. 7</i>.
Fig. 7.
(a) Selenium intake from the base diet. (b) Selenium intake from the base diet plus supplements.
<i>Fig. 8</i>.
Fig. 8.
(a) Zinc intake from the base diet. (b) Zinc intake from the base diet plus supplements.
<i>Fig. 9</i>.
Fig. 9.
(a) Folate intake from the base diet. (b) Folate intake from the base diet plus supplements. (c) Folic acid intake from base diet.(d) Folic acid intake from base diet plus supplements.
<i>Fig. 9</i>.
Fig. 9.
(a) Folate intake from the base diet. (b) Folate intake from the base diet plus supplements. (c) Folic acid intake from base diet.(d) Folic acid intake from base diet plus supplements.
<i>Fig. 10</i>.
Fig. 10.
(a) Nicotinamide intake from the base diet. (b) Nicotinamide intake from the base diet plus supplements.
<i>Fig. 11</i>.
Fig. 11.
(a) Retinol intake from the base diet. (b) Retinol intake from the base diet plus supplements. Note: UL (retinol) for postmenopausal women: 1,500 µg RE.
<i>Fig. 12</i>.
Fig. 12.
(a) Vitamin B6 intake from the base diet. (b) Vitamin B6 intake from the base diet plus supplements.
<i>Fig. 13</i>.
Fig. 13.
(a) Vitamin D intake from the base diet. (b) Vitamin D intake from the base diet plus supplements.
<i>Fig. 14</i>.
Fig. 14.
(a) Vitamin E intake from base diet. (b) Vitamin E intake from the base diet plus supplements.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. European Commission Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 June, 2002 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to food supplements. Official Journal of the European Communities L 183, 12/07/2002 P. 0051-0057.
    1. European Commission Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the council of 20 December 2006 on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods. Official Journal L 404, 30/12/2006 P. 0026 0038. http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/l_404/l_40420061230en... [cited 5 August 2009].
    1. European Food Safety Authority. Parma. Italy: European Food Safety Authority; 2006. Tolerable upper intake levels for vitamins and minerals. http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1178633962601.htm [cited 5 August 2009]
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    1. Domke A, Grossklaus R, Nieman B, Przyrembel H, Richter K, Schmidt E, et al. Use of minerals in foods. Toxicological and nutritional-physiological aspects. 2006. BfR Wissenschaft 01/2006. Federal Institute of Risk Assessment. http://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/238/use_of_minerals_in_foods.pdf; [cited 8 June 2009]