Intake of some minerals in healthy adult volunteers from eastern Croatia

Although minerals have important protective effects in human health, their role in nutrition is still underestimated and insufficiently investigated in Croatian population. The aim of this research was to examine sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and copper intake in 120 adults, aged 18–54 years. The research was conducted using the 10 times repeated 24-h recall method during 1 year. Participants were separated according to age, as well as according to the sex and body mass index. There were significant differences in daily intake of sodium, potassium, magnesium and copper between age groups, but not for phosphorus and iron. When divided by sex, significant differences in daily intake were found for all minerals. When nutritive density was considered, significant difference was found only for potassium and magnesium regarding sex. In conclusion, considering recommendations, the sodium dietary intake of the examined population is too high, while the intake of iron is to low among women.