title: Traditional foods from the Black Sea region as a potential source of minerals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the past few years, minerals have assumed great importance in public health. As a consequence, considerable research has been carried out to better understand their physiological role and the health consequences of mineral-deficient diets, to establish criteria for defining the degree of public health severity of malnutrition, and to develop prevention and control strategies. In most countries, there is limited information on the mineral content of traditional foods, and consequently it is very difficult to estimate mineral intake across these countries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten minerals were quantified in 33 traditional foods from Black Sea area countries. Our results indicate a considerable variability among the analysed traditional foods; nevertheless, the most abundant components were sodium (ranging from 40.0 to 619 mg 100 g(-1), for kvass southern and herbal dish, respectively), potassium (varied between 45.5 mg 100 g(-1) for millet ale and 938 mg 100 g(-1) for roasted sunflower seeds), and phosphorus (22.2 mg 100 g(-1) and 681 mg 100 g(-1) for sauerkraut and roasted sunflower seeds, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study that provides validated data on the mineral content for 33 traditional foods from Black Sea area countries, which is important in order to elucidate their role in the dietary pattern of populations and to preserve and promote these foods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, I.P., Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal; REQUIMTE/Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Tânia G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.forename: Helena S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanches-Silva
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trichopoulou
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Antuono
authors.forename: Iordanka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alexieva
authors.forename: Nadiya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boyko
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costea
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fedosova
authors.forename: Dmitry
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karpenko
authors.forename: Zaza
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kilasonia
authors.forename: Bike
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koçaoglu
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Finglas
mesh_terms: D059038:Black Sea; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D003469:Culture; D004032:Diet; D005502:Food; D006293:Health Promotion; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D008345:Manganese / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D017419:Potassium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D018977:Micronutrients; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary; D017419:Potassium, Dietary; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D008345:Manganese; D003300:Copper; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc
keywords: BaSeFood; Black Sea area countries; food composition data; micronutrients; minerals; traditional foods