Dietary vitamin B-6 intake and food sources in the US population: NHANES II, 1976–1980

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Abstract
Dietary vitamin B-6 intake and food sources were estimated from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II) dietary data for 11,658 adults aged 19–74 y. The average daily intake of vitamin B-6 was 1.48 +/- 0.01 mg (mean +/- SEM) for the total population, 1.85 +/- 0.02 for males and 1.14 +/- 0.01 for females. Seventy-one percent of males and 90% of females consumed less than the 1980 recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin B-6. Sixty-four percent of all survey respondents reported a ratio of vitamin B-6 to dietary protein of less than 0.02 (expressed as mg/g protein). Foods from animal and plant sources provided 48% and 52% of the total vitamin B-6, respectively. Vitamin B-6 intake decreased (P less than 0.0001) with increasing age and decreasing education and income status. Beef steaks and roasts, alcoholic beverages, potatoes, ready-to-eat cereals, and milk were important dietary sources of vitamin B-6.