Amino Acid Intake and Conformance With the Dietary Reference Intakes in the United States: Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2018

Claire E Berryman; Susan N Cheung; Erika M Collette; Stefan M Pasiakos; Harris R Lieberman; Victor L Fulgoni 3rd

doi:10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.01.012

Amino Acid Intake and Conformance With the Dietary Reference Intakes in the United States: Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2018

J Nutr. 2023 Mar;153(3):749-759. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.01.012. Epub 2023 Jan 11.

Authors

Claire E Berryman¹, Susan N Cheung², Erika M Collette³, Stefan M Pasiakos⁴, Harris R Lieberman⁵, Victor L Fulgoni 3rd⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA; Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA. Electronic address: claire.berryman@pbrc.edu.
² Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Belcamp, MD, USA; Military Nutrition Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA, USA.
³ Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
⁴ Military Performance Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA, USA.
⁵ Military Nutrition Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA, USA.
⁶ Nutrition Impact, LLC, Battle Creek, MI, USA.

PMID: 36805182
DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.01.012

Abstract

Background: The lack of complete amino acid composition data in food composition databases has made determining population-wide amino acid intake difficult.

Objectives: This cross-sectional study characterizes habitual intakes of each amino acid and adherence to dietary requirements for each essential amino acid (EAA) in the US population.

Methods: Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies ingredient codes with missing amino acid composition data were matched to similar ingredients with available data so that amino acid composition could be determined for 100% of foods reported in the dietary intake assessment component of NHANES. Amino acid intakes during NHANES 2001-2018 (n = 72,831; ≥2 y) were calculated as relative (mg·kg of ideal body weight^-1·d^-1) intakes. Data from NHANES 2011-2018 were used to determine the percentage of population consuming less than that recommended by the DRIs for each EAA by age, sex, and race/ethnicity.

Results: Relative intakes of EAAs and NEAAs were greatest in those 2-3 y and lowest in older individuals (≥71 y or ≥80 y). In females aged 2-18 y, relative intakes of EAAs were lowest in non-Hispanic White (NHW; histidine, lysine, threonine, methionine, and cysteine) and non-Hispanic Black (NHB; valine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine) populations and highest in the Asian population. In females aged ≥19 y, relative intakes were lowest in NHW (lysine and methionine only) and NHB populations and highest in the Asian population. In males aged 2-18 y, relative intakes of EAAs were lowest in the NHB population and highest in the Asian population. In males ≥19 y, relative intakes were lowest in NHB and NHW (lysine only) populations and highest in the Hispanic population. Less than 1% of individuals aged ≥19 y did not meet the Estimated Average Requirements for each EAA.

Conclusions: EAA intakes in the US population exceed recommended minimum population requirements. Future studies can use the method described here to quantify amino acid intake and examine relationships with health and disease.

Keywords: NHANES; RDA; essential amino acids; estimated average requirement; nonessential amino acids.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Amino Acids
Amino Acids, Essential
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diet*
Female
Humans
Lysine*
Male
Methionine
Nutrition Surveys
Recommended Dietary Allowances
United States

Substances

Lysine
Amino Acids
Amino Acids, Essential
Methionine