Vegetable Consumption and Selected Nutrient Intakes of Women of Childbearing Age

Abstract Objective To examine intake of selected nutrients and vegetable consumption of women of childbearing age (WCBA) from 19–50 years of age, across race/ethnicities, and annual household incomes. Design Dietary data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2012 and the Food Pattern Equivalents Database 2009–2012. Participants The study sample included 3,058 WCBA who were non-Hispanic white (NHW), non-Hispanic black (NHB), Mexican American (MA), and of other races/ethnicities (ORE) with annual household incomes of < $25,000, $25,000–75,000 or > $75,000. Variables Measured Average daily consumption of vegetables and mean intakes of nutrients of concern from foods, including potassium (K), dietary fiber (DF), calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin C, and folates. Analysis The analysis compared mean vegetable consumption and nutrient intake from food to current recommendations across race/ethnicity and household income categories. Results On average, WCBA consumed 1.43 cup equivalents/d of total vegetables and NHB WCBA consumed fewer vegetables than did NHW ( P