Comparison of Calculated Values with Analyzed Values in Intake of Microminerals from Diets in Hospital and Nursing Home

Abstract

Intake of microminerals (iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), iodine, selenium (Se), chromium (Cr) and molybdenum (Mo)) from diets in hospitals and nursing home was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and compared with those estimated by a calculation using the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan, 5th edition (Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn) or 2010 (iodine, Se, Cr and Mo). In the intake of Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn, correlation coefficients between the analyzed values and calculated values ranged from 0.6 to 0.9 and Y-intercepts of the regression equations were near zero; however, slopes of the equation ranged from 0.50 to 0.69. In the daily intake of Se and Mo, the estimated values using the Standard Tables, 2010 were almost equal to the analyzed values. On the other hand, the calculated iodine intake in some diets was markedly lower than the analyzed values. In addition, the calculated Cr intake was less than one-quarter of the analyzed values. These results indicate that considerable loss of Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn occurs in cooking and the estimated Se and Mo intake calculated using the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan, 2010 is reliable.