Intakes of Selenium, Caffeine, and Theobromine by Adults, 1994-1996 

Table Set 18

 Food Surveys Research Group, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, 

 Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Ave., 

 Bldg. 005, Rm 102, BARC-West, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350

 http://www.barc.usda.gov/bhnrc/foodsurvey/home.htm
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Intakes of Selenium, Caffeine, and Theobromine by Adults, 1994-96

The selenium, caffeine, and theobromine intakes provided here are Selenium intakes by individuals were expressed as percentages of the

from the combined 3 years of USDA's 10 nationwide food 1989 RDA, then averaged for the group. "The RDAs provide a safety th

consumption survey, the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by factor appropriate to each nutrient [1.3 for selenium] and exceed the

Individuals (CSFII), also known as the What We Eat in America actual requirements of most individuals" (FNB/NRC 1989, p. 2). "If a

Survey. Intakes in the table are for adults age 20 years and over. population's habitual intake approximates or exceeds the RDA, the

Intakes of these nutrients by children are provided in Table Set 17 on probability of deficiency is quite low" (FNB/NRC 1989, p. 21). 

this web site. Selenium, caffeine, and theobromine were added to the

Survey Nutrient Database in 1998 and applied to data collected in Data for the selenium, caffeine, and theobromine contents of foods

1994-96 for presentation here. were compiled by the ARS Nutrient Data Laboratory. The selenium

The table provides national probability estimates for the U.S. the quantity of biologically available selenium in the soil in which they

population. The results are weighted to adjust for differential rates of grow and, hence, their geographical origin (Holden et al. 1991). Values

sample selection and nonresponse, to calibrate the sample to match for major dietary contributors of selenium are based on laboratory

population characteristics that are correlated with eating behavior, and analyses of food samples drawn from retail outlets according to

to equalize intakes over the 4 quarters of the year and the 7 days of nationwide sampling plans, in order to provide average values

the week. The CSFII 1994-96 overall day-1 response rate was 80.0 appropriate for national food surveys (Holden et al. 1991, Gebhardt et

percent. Mean intakes in the table are based on respondents' intakes al. 1990). 

on the first of 2 survey days; a 24-hour recall was used to collect the

data. The design, methodology, and operation of the survey are Counts of respondents

reported elsewhere (Tippett and Cypel 1997). That report is available

on the Products page of this web site under "Reports." Unweighted counts of survey respondents are provided in the table by

Notes respondents. Fasters (that is, individuals reporting no foods or

The estimated nutrient intakes presented in the table are weighted 

means (averages) for the group of individuals identified in the left- Statistical notes

hand column. For each dietary component identified in the column

head, intakes for each individual in a day were totaled, and a group Estimates based on small cell sizes may tend to be less statistically

mean was calculated. The selenium intakes presented in the table do reliable than estimates based on larger cell sizes. All estimates in this

not include selenium from vitamin and mineral supplements; although table are reliable based on statistical guidelines for nationwide survey

data were collected on the frequency and type of vitamin and mineral data (FASEB/LSRO 1995).

supplements used, amounts were not obtained. 

content of plants, in particular cereal grains, is strongly influenced by

sex-age group. The estimates are based on data from all appropriate

beverages consumed for the day) were included in the calculations.
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References

FASEB/LSRO (Federation of American Societies for Experimental

Biology, Life Sciences Research Office). 1995. Third report on

nutrition monitoring in the United States: Volume 1. Prepared for the

Interagency Board for Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research. 

U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, pages III-1 to III10. 

FNB/NRC (Food and Nutrition Board, National Research Council). 

1989. Recommended Dietary Allowances. 10th edition. National

Academy Press, Washington, DC. 

Gebhardt, S. E., J.M. Holden, and C.S. Davis. 1990. Preliminary

report: A nationwide study of the selenium content of U.S. foods. In

M.R. Stewart, ed., Proceedings of the 15 National Nutrient th

Databank Conference, Blacksburg, VA, June 3-6, 1990, pp. 43-52.

The CBORD Group, Inc., Ithaca, NY. 

Holden, J.M., S.E. Gebhardt, C.S. Davis, and D. G. Lurie. 1991. A

nationwide study of the selenium contents and variability in white

bread. Journal of Food Composition and Analyses 4:183-195. Suggested citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural

Tippett, K.S. and Y.S. Cypel (eds.). 1997. Design and Operation: The Theobromine by Adults, 1994-96. Online: ARS Food Surveys Research

Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals and the Diet and Group; available on the Products page at

Health Knowledge Survey, 1994-96. U.S. Department of Agriculture, http://www.barc.usda.gov/bhnrc/foodsurveys/home.htm [accessed

Agricultural Research Service, Nationwide Food Surveys Report No. year, month date].

96-1, 197pp.

Research Service. 2000. Intakes of Selenium, Caffeine, and

June 2000
Selenium, caffeine, and theobromine: Mean intakes and, for selenium, mean intake as a 

 percentage of the 1989 RDA, adults age 20 years and over, 1 day, 1994-96 

 

Sex and age Sample Selenium Caffeine Theobromine

(years) size 

 Number Micrograms % RDA --------------Milligrams-------------------T11 x

Males:

 20-29.............................................. x 781 140.7 201.1 183.5 33.5

 30-39................................................ x 889 138.1 197.3 280.5 45.1

 40-49.............................................. x 862 133.0 190.0 324.9 42.5

 50-59.................................................... x 888 124.3 177.5 318.8 37.4

 60-69.............................................. x 845 114.2 163.1 276.5 29.4

 70 and over................................... x 791 100.9 144.2 194.9 27.2

 20 and over................................. x 5,056 129.6 185.2 264.9 37.7

Females:

 20-29.............................................. x 720 87.7 156.2 142.8 35.8

 30-39............................................. x 816 87.2 156.8 208.5 29.0

 40-49.............................................. x 902 87.5 158.4 250.0 31.8

 50-59.................................................... x 864 87.1 158.4 245.9 26.8

 60-69.............................................. x 789 84.6 153.9 197.0 26.1

 70 and over................................... x 725 75.9 137.9 170.2 22.2

 20 and over................................. x 4,816 85.5 154.4 202.7 29.3

Males and females:

 20 and over..................................... x 9,872 106.7 169.2 232.5 33.3

SOURCE: USDA Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, 1994-96.

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