We have developed a Boron Nutrient Database and estimated dietary boron intake using the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) 1994-1996.
Boron intakes were calculated for each CSFII 1994-1996 respondent who completed two 24-h dietary recall interviews (n=15 267). Means, percentiles, and associated standard errors of usual intake were estimated using statistical methods of Nusser et al. (1996). Mean boron intakes for school-age children and adolescents ranged from 0.80 7 0.01 mg/d (S.E.) for 4-8-year olds to 1.02 7 0.04 mg/d for males aged 14-18. For female and male adults, the mean intakes were 1.00 7 0.01 and 1.28 7 0.02 mg/d, respectively. The 5th and 95th percentiles were 0.43 and 1.29 mg/d for 4-8-year olds, 0.47 and 1.79 mg/d for males aged 14-18, 0.41 and 1.87 mg/d for adult females and 0.53 and 2.40 mg/d for adult males. Food groups contributing the most to boron intake of respondents age 4 and older were fruits (25.1% of boron intake), beverages (19.5%), vegetables (18.1%) and grains (14.1%). These boron intake estimates from a U.S. representative sample are within the range of previous estimates. Boron intake was calculated for each person at the individual food level, enabling more detailed analyses of intakes and food sources.