Average mineral and trace element content in daily adjusted menus (DAM) of French adults.

This article is based on data on food consumption gathered from 10,000 households. The daily energetic intake of 2,000 to 2,500 kcal (8,360 to 10,450 kJ) (beverages excluded) provides adults with less than 80% of the recommended amount of several essential minerals and trace elements. For women, beverages contribute only slightly to the total amount of mineral and trace element intake, because the major beverage sources of minerals and trace elements are alcoholic drinks (wine, beer). For men, alcoholic drinks could provide an additional amount of these elements. Consequently, it seems the risk of deficiency appears in adults, with women particularly concerned by this problem. The present study demonstrates that the intake of the following elements might be insufficient in women: fluorine, manganese, iron, copper, zinc and magnesium.