Asparagus
What it is
Asparagus is a vegetable eaten in prepared dishes or as spears. The table here uses the raw-asparagus reference, so cooked or canned products require their own records.
What it does
Raw asparagus in USDA's dataset provides 52 micrograms of folate and 2.1 g of fiber per 100 g. Folate helps with DNA production and normal cell division. The food also contributes potassium and vitamin K in the amounts shown.
Research context and ingredient forms
A raw-food record describes the food before cooking. It does not establish the composition of an equal weight of roasted, boiled, or canned asparagus, nor the amount remaining after a particular cooking process.
Using this information
Match the preparation when estimating a meal. Butter, oil, sauces, and canning liquid should be handled according to the recipe or product label. If weighing raw asparagus, use the edible portion that will enter the dish.
Food sources and composition
| Nutrient | Amount and serving basis | Food and source |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 20 kcal per 100 g edible portion | Asparagus, raw; Asparagus, raw SR Legacy April 2018; FDC published 2019-04-01 |
| Protein | 2.2 g per 100 g edible portion | Asparagus, raw; Asparagus, raw SR Legacy April 2018; FDC published 2019-04-01 |
| Fiber, total dietary | 2.1 g per 100 g edible portion | Asparagus, raw; Asparagus, raw SR Legacy April 2018; FDC published 2019-04-01 |
| Folate, total | 52 µg per 100 g edible portion | Asparagus, raw; Asparagus, raw SR Legacy April 2018; FDC published 2019-04-01 |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 41.6 µg per 100 g edible portion | Asparagus, raw; Asparagus, raw SR Legacy April 2018; FDC published 2019-04-01 |
| Potassium, K | 202 mg per 100 g edible portion | Asparagus, raw; Asparagus, raw SR Legacy April 2018; FDC published 2019-04-01 |
Scientific Research & References
- Asparagus, raw
2019 · USDA Agricultural Research Service
Limitations: Historical food/preparation-specific composition, not a clinical-outcome estimate or current brand label.
Source assessment recorded.
- USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Legacy Release: Documentation
2018 · USDA Agricultural Research Service
Limitations: Historical dataset; values may be analytical, calculated, imputed, or assumed zero. Not clinical-outcome evidence.
Source assessment recorded.
- Folate: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
Limitations: Used only for the mapped definition or nutrient role, not a food-specific clinical benefit.
Source assessment recorded.
Related dictionary entries
Products containing it
No label-specific product relationship has been reviewed for this entry.