Nutritional impact of adding a serving of mushrooms on usual intakes and nutrient adequacy using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2016 data

To evaluate the nutritional impact of adding a serving of mushrooms on usual intakes and population adequacy of nutrients the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2016 dietary data for 9–18 years and 19+ years and a composite of commonly consumed raw mushrooms as well as oyster mushrooms (nutrient profiles from USDA data) were used for modeling. Usual intakes of nutrients and the percent population below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) or above the Adequate Intake (AI) were estimated before and after addition of mushrooms. Means with nonoverlapping 95th percentile confidence levels were used to assess meaningful differences. Addition of a serving (84 g) of mushrooms to the diet resulted in an increase in dietary fiber (5%–6%), copper (24%–32%), phosphorus (6%), potassium (12%–14%), selenium (13%–14%), zinc (5%–6%), riboflavin (13%–15%), niacin (13%–14%), and choline (5%–6%) in both adolescents and adults; and in iron (2.32%), thiamin (4.07%), folate (3.66%), and vitamin B(6) (4.64%) in adults only, but had no impact on energy, carbohydrate, fat, or sodium. Addition of a serving of mushrooms also decreased the % below EAR for copper, phosphorus, and riboflavin for those 9–18 years and for copper, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, and vitamin B(6) for those 19+ years and increased the % above AI for potassium for both age groups. Addition of oyster mushrooms additionally increased 12%–13% vitamin D, and 12%–15% choline in the NHANES 2011–2016 diets. Addition of mushrooms exposed to UV light to increase vitamin D levels to 5 µg/serving also almost doubled vitamin D intake (98%–104%) and decreased inadequacy. Addition of a serving of mushrooms would also add 2.2 mg ergothioneine and 3.5 mg glutathione to the diet. Addition of a mushroom serving to the diet would increase several micronutrients including shortfall nutrients, without having any impact on energy, sodium, or fat.