Sources of Potassium among the US Population, 2005–06
Objective
The purpose of this research was to identify the contributions of specific
foods to intake of potassium in the US population age 2 and older.
[Return to Top]
Methods
We used the 2005-06 National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey (NHANES) to determine the contribution of specific foods to intake
of potassium. The dietary intake data collected in the survey were catalogued
according to discrete food codes. For this analysis, food codes representing
similar foods -- such as the various types of pasta dishes -- were combined to provide
an indication of the contribution of distinct food items to intake of the
dietary component being studied. That is, the food codes were sorted into 96
mutually exclusive food categories, termed specific foods.
[Return to Top]
[Return to Top]
Tables
There are separate tables for the percentage contribution and
mean contribution of various foods, stratified by age group, sex,
race/ethnicity, and family income.
Tables 1a-4a. Mean Intakes of Potassium and Percentage Contribution of Various Foods
Tables 1b-4b. Mean Intakes of Potassium and Mean Contribution (mg) of Various Foods
[Return to Top]
Note
This approach identifies food sources of a given
dietary component for the population which may/may not be the richest sources of
the component. For that reason, these data may be most informative when the
component is over-, rather than under-consumed. If a component is
under-consumed, rich sources -- foods with the greatest amount per 100 grams --
may be more relevant.
[Return to Top]
Key Findings
The top five contributors of potassium for all persons are reduced fat milk
(154 mg/day), coffee (135 mg/day), chicken and chicken mixed dishes (119
mg/day), beef and beef mixed dishes (94 mg/day), and 100% orange/grapefruit
juice (90 mg/day). The major sources of potassium varied somewhat by age,
gender, race/ethnicity, and family income. For example:
- Rankings varied somewhat by age: The top source among persons 19
and older is coffee (176 mg/day). Other foods in the top five for several
narrower age groups include: whole milk for 2-3 year olds, 4-8 year olds, 9-13
year olds; 100% fruit juice (not orange/grapefruit) for 2-3 year olds and 4-8
year olds; pasta and pasta dishes for 2-3 year olds and 9-13 year olds; skim
milk for 2-3 year olds; dairy desserts for 4-8 year olds; fried white potatoes
for 9-13 year olds and 14-18 year olds; potato/corn/other chips for 14-18 year
olds and 31-50 year olds; pizza for 14-18 year olds; Mexican mixed dishes for
19-30 year olds; other white potatoes for 51-70 year olds and persons 71 and
older; and bananas for persons 71 and older.
- Rankings varied somewhat by gender: Bananas (88 mg/day) are a top
source among 2-3 year old males, and soups (102 mg/day) and tea (101 mg/day) are
top sources among 51-70 year old females.
- Rankings varied somewhat by race/ethnicity: The top source for
non-Hispanic Blacks is chicken and chicken mixed dishes (152 mg/day) and for
Mexican-Americans it is Mexican mixed dishes (188 mg/day). Other foods in the
top five include: fried white potatoes for non-Hispanic Whites (85 mg/day) and
non-Hispanic Blacks (102 mg/day); potato/corn/other chips (130 mg/day) for
non-Hispanic Blacks; and whole milk (150 mg/day), beans (122 mg/day), and soups
(113 mg/day) for Mexican-Americans.
- Rankings varied somewhat by income: Whole milk is among the top
five sources for persons with a family income ≤130% of the poverty income
ratio (PIR) (129 mg/day) and 131-185% PIR (119 mg/day). Potato/corn/other chips
(93 mg/day) are among the top five sources for persons with 131-185% PIR; and
fried white potatoes (92 mg/day) are among the top five sources for persons
≥185% PIR.
[Return to Top]
Suggested Citation
Suggested citation for information contained on this page:
Sources of Potassium Among the US Population, 2005-06.
Risk Factor Monitoring and Methods Branch Website.
Applied Research Program.
National Cancer Institute.
http://riskfactor.cancer.gov/diet/foodsources/potassium/.
Updated Month Day, Year.
Accessed Month Day, Year.
[Return to Top]
|
