Food sources of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, and potassium in the U.S.

Dietary food patterns recommended for children and adults include two/three daily servings of dairy foods to provide important bone building nutrients, namely calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and vitamin D and contribute to potassium (K) intakes. The aim of this study was to determine dietary sources of Ca, P, vitamin D, and K in the U.S. using NHANES, 2003–2006 data. Intakes were determined for subjects, 2+ yrs (n=16,822) with a reliable 24‐hr recall interview on the first day. With food mixtures/mixed dishes classified by their main ingredient, the top five food categories as sources (%) of Ca were dairy (38.6), grains (28.8), beverages (7.2), sweets and desserts (7.2), and meat, poultry and fish (4.5); of P were grains (28.6), dairy (22.0), meat, poultry and fish (21.0), sweets and desserts (6.7), and eggs, legumes and nuts (6.4); of vitamin D were dairy (52.3), meat, poultry and fish (19.3), grains (11.3), eggs, legumes and nuts (4.9), and fruit/fruit juice (3.4); and of K were grains (20.3), meat, poultry and fish (16.2), dairy (13.9), vegetables (13.7), and fruit/fruit juice (11.1). Fluid milk was the number one single food source of Ca, P, vitamin D, and K providing 21.5, 12.3, 42.6, and 9.9%, respectively, of the total dietary intake of these nutrients. In conclusion, these data continue to support that dairy products and fluid milk, in particular, are the major sources of important nutrients from food in the U.S. diet. (Supported by the National Dairy Council)