INAA OF TRACE-ELEMENTS IN INDIAN VEGETARIAN DIET AND ITS ADEQUACY VIS-A-VIS RECOMMENDED DIETARY-ALLOWANCES

There has been an increasing awareness concerning the adequacy of trac e elements in diet as their deficiency or excess may cause abnormal ch anges in the biochemical processes. Typical Indian vegetarian diet and dietary components such as cereals, grains, pulses, vegetables and sp ices have been analysed for 19 elements (Br, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K , Mn, Mo, Na, P, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Th and Zn) by instrumental neutro n activation analysis (NAA). Several Standard Reference Materials (SRM s) were analysed for quality assurance. Based on the elemental content s, the daily dietary intake has been calculated and the data compared with those from other countries, Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) and permissible body burden. It has been observed that, although vege tarian, the Indian diet has an adequate content of essential trace ele ments compared to non-vegetarian oriental (Japan and Taiwan) and weste rn (Germany, Denmark and USA) diets.