The adequacy of essential minerals intake in four areas of Spain as assessed by direct analysis and a data base

Abstract

This study was undertaken in order to monitor the intake of some essential trace elements in four geographical areas of Spain from their habitual diets and to compare with the recommended intake (RI) and acceptable daily intake (ADI), in order to know the adequacy and the risk of toxicity. Four Spanish areas have been selected: Galicia, which presented the highest energy consumption, Valencia the lowest, Andalucia with the highest population, and Madrid. The four total diets were prepared with the number of foods providing the 95% of the total energy intake, 64, 67, 71 and 73 respectively. Cu, Zn, Fe, Ca, Mg, K and P have been determined by two methods: direct analysis and a computerized program with a data base containing the Spanish Food Composition Table, in order to know the usefulness of the latter. When daily amounts of essential minerals were compared with either, the ADI or RI, it can be concluded that all analysed elements are below ADI except copper in Madrid (265% of the ADI). Essential minerals met RI except for copper in Galicia (70%), Andalucia (56%) and Valencia (53%) and zinc in Galicia (81%), Andalucia (65%), Valencia (74%) and Madrid (91%). Variability observed between data base and direct analysis data may indicate the neccesity of analysing total diets in the case of trace elements with a tight safety margin between RI and ADI.