Dietary Boron Intake in the United States: CSFII 1994–1996

Abstract

We have developed a Boron Nutrient Database and estimated dietary boron intake using the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) 1994–1996. Boron intakes were calculated for each CSFII 1994–1996 respondent who completed two 24-h dietary recall interviews ( n=15 267). Means, percentiles, and associated standard errors of usual intake were estimated using statistical methods of Nusser et al. (1996). Mean boron intakes for school-age children and adolescents ranged from 0.80 ± 0.01 mg/d ( S.E.) for 4–8-year olds to 1.02 ± 0.04 mg/d for males aged 14–18. For female and male adults, the mean intakes were 1.00 ± 0.01 and 1.28 ± 0.02 mg/d, respectively. The 5th and 95th percentiles were 0.43 and 1.29 mg/d for 4–8-year olds, 0.47 and 1.79 mg/d for males aged 14–18, 0.41 and 1.87 mg/d for adult females and 0.53 and 2.40 mg/d for adult males. Food groups contributing the most to boron intake of respondents age 4 and older were fruits (25.1% of boron intake), beverages (19.5%), vegetables (18.1%) and grains (14.1%). These boron intake estimates from a U.S. representative sample are within the range of previous estimates. Boron intake was calculated for each person at the individual food level, enabling more detailed analyses of intakes and food sources.