Dietary intake of human essential elements from a Total Diet Study in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China

This study aimed to assess the dietary intake of human essential elements of local residents in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, using a Total Diet Study (TDS). The levels of eight human essential elements, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu, in a total of 243 food samples collected in January 2011, were determined. Na, Mg, K, and Ca were the major elements, and their concentrations were approximately 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than those of other metals, which are trace elements in the human body. For the eight elements, the total dietary metal intake of Shenzhen residents was 2840 (Na), 2110 (K), 173 (Mg), 391 (Ca), 7.28 (Fe), 2.09 (Mn), 7.47 (Zn), and 1.11 (Cu) mg/d. The dietary intake of Na exceeded the reference values, whereas the Ca intake was insufficient. The dietary intake of the other six elements conformed to the recommended doses. Because excess Na and insufficient Ca could cause adverse effects, a low sodium diet and Ca supplementation were recommended for local residents of Shenzhen to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.