Skip to main content
. 2023 May 1;62(6):2449–2462. doi: 10.1007/s00394-023-03153-5

Table 7.

Percentages of users and non-users of specific micronutrients among children aged 7–10 years (n = 296) in exceedance of the upper intake level (UL) through the diet alone and when also considering supplement use (% (95% CI) and the mean (SD) and median (95% CI) intakes of micronutrients

Micronutrient UL Non-users Users Non-users Users
Dietary intake Dietary intake Total intake Dietary intake Dietary intake Total intake
 > UL  > 150%  > UL  > 150%  > UL  > 150% Mean (SD) Median (95% CI) Mean (SD) Median (95% CI) Mean (SD) Median (95% CI)
Retinol µg 1500 11.5 (6.4–18.5) 3.3 (0.9–8.2) 14.9 (10.0–21.1) 4.6 (2.2–8.9) 20.7 (14.9–27.5) 6.9 (3.6–11.7) 798 (51) 600 (237–1889) 862 (51) 632 (232–2259) 1100 (53) 886 (375–2483)***
Vitamin D µg 25 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 1.1 (0.1–4.0) 0.5 (0.0–3.1) 3.0 (0.2) 2.2 (1.0- 8.7) 2.6 (0.2) 2.0 (1.0–5.6) 9.3 (0.5) 8.7 (2.5–20.5)***
Vitamin Eb α-TEc 160 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 7.7 (0.2) 7.2 (4.3–12.4) 7.8 (0.2) 7.2 (4.3–13.7) 12.1 (0.3) 11.3 (6.5–19.6)***
Thiamin mg TGLd 25 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 1.3 (0.0) 1.2 (0.7–2.0) 1.2 (0.0) 1.2 (0.7–1.8) 1.7 (0.0) 1.8 (1.0–2.4)***
Riboflavin mg GLe 22 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 1.7 (0.1) 1.6 (0.8–3.0) 1.7 (0.0) 1.6 (0.9–2.5) 2.2 (0.0) 2.2 (1.2–3.2)***
Niacin NEf 350 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 24.8 (0.6) 23.7 (12.8–36.6) 23.3 (0.5) 22.4 (14.5–34.7) 28.7 (0.5) 28.4(19.2–40.2)***
Vitamin B6 mg 10 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 1.3 (0.0) 1.3 (0.7–1.9) 1.3 (0.0) 1.2 (0.8–1.9) 1.9 (0.3) 1.9 (1.1–2.7)***
Folic acidb mg 400 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 297 (9) 286 (166–458) 288 (7) 270 (169–460) 344 (7) 323 (207–522)***
Vitamin B12 µg GLe 1000 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 5.7 (0.2) 5.1 (2.1–11.0) 5.6 (0.2) 5.1 (2.3–10.0) 6.4 (0.2) 6.1 (2.9–10.6)**
Vitamin C mg TGLd 500 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0.6 (0–3.2) 0 (0–2.1) 112 (5) 99 (45–231) 103 (4) 88 (45–195) 137 (6) 122 (61–249)***
Calcium mg 2500 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 1090 (35) 1029 (576–1813) 1072 (24) 1030 (613–1641) 1136 (25) 1097 (657–1731)
Magnesium b mg 250 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 310 (7) 301 (192–434) 304 (6) 287 (191–458) 318 (6) 301 (210–481)
Iron mg TGLd 20 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 6.4** (3.3–11.2) 0.6 (0–3.2) 9.7 (0.2) 9.5 (6.3–13.6) 9.5 (0.2) 9.0 (6.2–14.6) 14.0 (0.3) 13.9 (8.7–20.6)***
Zinc mg 13 15.2 (9.4–22.7) 0.8 (0–4.4) 14.0 (9.2–20.2) 0 (0–2.1) 45.6** (38.0–53.4) 0.6 (0–3.2) 10.4 (0.3) 9.6 (6.0–15-2) 10.1 (0.2) 9.8 (6.1–14.5) 12.7 (0.2) 12.8 (8.1–17.5)***
Iodine µg 300 26.4 (18.9–35.0) 7.2 (3.3–13-2) 15.2* (10.2–21.5) 5.3 (2.4–9.8) 26.3 (19.9–33.6) 5.8 (2.8–10.5) 252 (12) 214 (99–535) 223 (7) 213 (111–462) 261 (8) 247 (128–493)*
Selenium µg 130 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0.0–3.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 0 (0–2.1) 43.7(1.2) 41.0 (23.7–68.0) 41.5 (0.9) 40.5 (24.9–61.3) 53.2 (1.1) 52.0 (31.9–76.2)***

*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 (user vs non-user)

aIn 2012 the UL for vitamin D was increased from 25 µg/day to 50 µg/day

bThe UL applies to supplements only

cUL for α-tocopherol equivalents (α-TEs). 1 α-TE = 1 mg RRR α-tocopherol

dtemporary guidance level (TGL) suggested by a Danish expert group [26]

eGuidance level (GL) established by a British expert group (Expert group on Vitamins and Minerals 2003) and extrapolated to children by Rasmussen et al. [26]

fNiacin equivalents (NEs). 1 NE = 1 mg niacin = 60 mg tryptophan