Multicountry estimation of dietary boron intake

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Trace Element Metabolism
• Dietary Assessment

Background:

• Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) are not yet established for boron (B), a naturally occurring trace element.
• Understanding dietary boron intake is crucial for planning and assessing diets in healthy populations.
• Boron's role in human health necessitates accurate intake estimations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate average daily dietary boron intake in adults across diverse populations.
• To identify major food sources contributing to boron intake in selected countries.
• To provide foundational data for potential future establishment of DRIs for boron.

Main Methods:

• Utilized nationwide survey data from the US and Germany, and specific program data from Mexico and Kenya.
• Developed a comprehensive boron (B) nutrient database incorporating analytical data from multiple countries.
• Estimated individual average daily boron intake by linking food consumption records with the boron database.

Main Results:

• Estimated average daily boron intake for adult males: US (1.11 mg B/d), Germany (1.72 mg B/d), Mexico (2.12 mg B/d), Kenya (1.95 mg B/d).
• Estimated average daily boron intake for adult females: US (0.89 mg B/d), Germany (1.62 mg B/d), Mexico (1.75 mg B/d), Kenya (1.80 mg B/d).
• Identified key food items that are major contributors to dietary boron intake in each surveyed country.

Conclusions:

• Dietary boron intake varies significantly among adults in the US, Germany, Mexico, and Kenya.
• The study provides essential data on boron consumption patterns in diverse populations.
• This research serves as a basis for future investigations into boron's nutritional significance and potential DRIs.