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The contributions of 12 food groups to the estimated dietary intakes of 11 nutritional elements in the diets of eight age-sex groups was determined from analyses of 234 core foods in the U.S. food supply and consumption data from national food consumption surveys. The major contributors of each element were grain products for sodium, iron, manganese, and iodine; vegetables for potassium; milk and cheese for calcium; milk and cheese and animal flesh for phosphorus; vegetables and grain products for magnesium; and animal flesh for zinc, copper, and selenium. For the infant diet, the milk and cheese group (which includes infant formula) was the major contributor to the estimated intakes of sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, and iodine. Grain products were the primary sources for iron, manganese, and selenium in the infant diet. The diet of 2-year-olds, which includes a considerable amount of milk, contains larger percentages of sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and iodine from milk and cheese than do the diets of older age-sex groups. For teenagers, milk and cheese make a greater contribution to potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, manganese, and iodine intakes than they do for the adult age-sex groups.

Dietary intakes of 11 nutritional elements for eight age-sex groups were estimated for the time period 1982 to 1991 on the basis of results from laboratory analyses of 234 core foods of the U.S. food supply and food consumption data from two national food consumption surveys conducted in the late 1970s. Estimated intakes based on the mean and median (50th percentile) levels of the elements in the foods were similar, except for iodine for which intake estimates based on mean values exceeded those based on median values. The high concentration of iodine in some foods resulted in higher mean (than median) values. Estimated intakes of sodium, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, and iodine met or nearly met dietary intake standards set by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Estimated intakes of copper were below NAS standards for all eight age-sex groups. Estimated intakes were below NAS standards for magnesium for six age-sex groups, calcium and zinc for five age-sex groups, iron for three age-sex groups, and manganese for one age-sex group. The diets of teenage girls had seven elements below NAS standards, the diets of adult women had five elements below NAS standards, and the diets of 2-year-olds and older men and women had four elements each below NAS standards. The estimated intake of sodium for 6-11-month-old infants showed a decreasing trend from 729 mg/day in 1982/83 to 632 mg/day in 1990/91. There were no other significant trends or changes in estimated element intakes over the 9-year period.

Daily intakes of aluminium were estimated for 14 age-sex groups based on the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Total Diet Study dietary exposure model. The aluminium content of the core foods of the FDA Total Diet Study were determined by analyses, recipe calculation, or literature values and coupled with information on food consumption from the 1987-88 US Department of Agriculture Nationwide Food Consumption Survey. Estimates of aluminium intakes ranged from 0.7 mg/day for 6-11-month-old infants to 11.5 mg/day for 14-16-year-old males. Average intakes for adult men and women were 8-9 and 7 mg/day, respectively. The major contributors to daily intake of aluminium were foods with aluminium-containing food additives, e.g. grain products and processed cheese.