Intake of 17 Elements by Swedish Women, Determined by a 24-h Duplicate Portion Study

Duplicate portions of all foods and beverages consumed by 15 Swedish women during seven consecutive 24-h periods were collected and analyzed for 17 elements (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn), mainly by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after dry ashing. Considerable emphasis was placed on analytical quality assurance. For this purpose, a set of six different simulated diet reference materials, consisting of a number of foods mixed in different proportions was prepared. A procedure for performance evaluation using these reference materials was developed. The results of the study indicate that the dietary intake of essential mineral elements is generally adequate, and the intake of undesirable elements is low.