Data on food supplement usage were collected from 2451 adults in seven Western states. No significant differences were determined among states. A majority (66.6%) of the sample used some form of food supplements, with 40.0% consuming one to three supplements per day. The archetype food supplement user was likely to be a young female with some college education, who believes that the nutritional quality of food has decreased in the last 10 yr and in the efficacy of supplements for disease prevention or cure, and primarily receives information concerning food and nutrition from books and health food stores. Correspondingly, one of the most frequently cited reasons for using food supplements, next to "to prevent colds and other illnesses" was "to make up for what is not in food." The three most frequently used food supplements, in rank order, were multiple vitamins, vitamin C, and multiple vitamins plus iron.

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A study of the nutritional vitamin status of older women included 46 patients in nursing homes and 24 residents of private homes. The age range was 62 through 99 years. Calculated values for the mean daily caloric and vitamin intakes indicated that vitamin A and thiamin were the vitamins that compared less favorably with the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Values for vitamin A and C in sera and for thiamin, riboflavin, and N-methyl nicotinamide excretion were compared with standards of adequacy, Vitamin A values in sera of 14% of all subjects were "deficient" or "low". All serum ascorbic acid levels were "acceptable". Thiamin and riboflavin concentrations in urine of 17 and 15% of the subjects, respectively, were "deficient" or "low". Except for one subject, all N-methyl nicotamide values were "acceptable". In general, values for caloric and vitamin intakes and for corresponding levels of vitamins in sera or urine of patients in nursing homes did not differ significantly from analogous values obtained for subjects in private homes. The effect of age and income and education level are discussed.

Calculated protein and iron intakes, serum protein levels, and measurements of iron nutriture for elderly women were related to age, income, education, and type type of residence. Low or deficient levels of total serum protein and albumin were observed for 36 and 20% of the subjects and low hemoglobin and elevated total iron-binding capacity values were recorded for 19 and 40% of the subjects. Values below the acceptable standards for albumin and hemoglobin and above the acceptable range for total iron-binding capacity were greater for nursing home patients than for private home residents. Nutrition intervention appears to be a crucial part of correction of the deficient biochemical measurements which may result from malnutrition and/or pathological conditions.

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