DIETARY VITAMIN-B6 INTAKE AND FOOD SOURCES IN THE UNITED-STATES POPULATION - NHANES II, 1976-1980

Dietary vitamin B-6 intake and food sources were estimated from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II) dietary data for 11 658 adults aged 19-74 y. The average daily intake of vitamin B-6 was 1.48 ± 0.01 mg (x̄ ± SEM) for the total population, 1.85 ± 0.02 for males and 1.14 ± 0.01 for females. Seventy-one percent of males and 90% of females consumed less than the 1980 recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin B-6. Sixty-four percent of all survey respondents reported a ratio of vitamin B-6 to dietary protein of < 0.02 (expressed as mg/g protein). Foods from animal and plant sources provided 48% and 52% of the total vitamin B-6, respectively. Vitamin B-6 intake decreased (P < 0.0001) with increasing age and decreasing education and income status. Beef steaks and roasts, alcoholic beverages, potatoes, ready-to-eat cereals, and milk were important dietary sources of vitamin B-6.