A Comparison of Micronutrient Inadequacy and Risk of High Micronutrient Intakes among Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Users and Nonusers in Canada3

Abstract

Although supplement use is prevalent in North America, there is little information on how supplements affect the prevalence of nutrient adequacy or risk of intakes greater than the tolerable upper intake level (UL). The objectives of this study were to compare the prevalence of nutrient adequacy and percent of intakes greater than the UL from diet alone between supplement users and nonusers and determine the contribution of supplements to nutrient intakes. Dietary intakes (24-h recall) and supplement use (previous 30 d) from respondents ≥1 y in the Canadian Community Health Survey 2.2 (n = 34,381) were used to estimate the prevalence of nutrient adequacy and intakes greater than the UL. Software for Intake Distribution Evaluation was used to estimate usual intakes. The prevalence of nutrient adequacy from diet alone was not significantly higher among supplement users than nonusers for any nutrient. Based on diet alone, children 1-13 y had a low prevalence of nutrient adequacy (<30%) except for vitamin D and calcium. Among respondents ≥14 y, inadequacies of vitamins A and D, calcium, and magnesium were >30%. For other nutrients, there was a low prevalence of nutrient adequacy. There were no nutrient intakes greater than the UL from diet alone, except zinc in children. When supplements were included, ≥10% of users in some age/sex groups had intakes of vitamins A and C, niacin, folic acid, iron, zinc, and magnesium greater than the UL, reaching >80% for vitamin A and niacin in children. In conclusion, from diet alone, the prevalence of nutrient adequacy was low for most nutrients except for calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A and D. For most nutrients, supplement users were not at greater risk of inadequacy than nonusers; supplement use sometimes led to intakes greater than the UL.

Nutritional predictors of depression in a cohort of community-dwelling elderly Canadians: NuAge cohort

“…Data from the CCHS 2.2 showed a 16% prevalence rate of inadequate intakes of vitamin B6 from diet alone in men and 28% in women aged 51y and older (Shakur, et al, 2012). A similar study on 4,384 US residents observed that inadequacy of B6 from diet alone reached 34% among men, and 49% among women aged ≥ 71y (Sebastian, Cleveland, Goldman, & Moshfegh, 2007).…”

“…Very low prevalence rates of vitamin deficiency (Colapinto, O'Connor, & Tremblay, 2011;MacFarlane, Greene-Finestone, & Shi, 2011) and inadequate intakes (Shakur, Tarasuk, Corey, & O'Connor, 2012) are reported in the Canadian population.…”

“…The study of foods (as opposed to nutrients) can result in more easily attainable health messages and recommendations for the older population. from diet alone is up to 40% in women and 22% in men aged 51 and older (Shakur, et al, 2012), although supplementation mitigated these rates by bringing the prevalence rate of inadequacy to lower than 5% (Shakur, et al, 2012).…”

“…Although supplementation decreased these rates to some extent in both US and Canadian populations, supplement consumption was greater among seniors in the US (43%) (Sebastian, et al, 2007) than in Canada (<30%) (Shakur, et al, 2012). …”

Zinc supplement use and contribution to zinc intake in Australian children

“…Zn requirements (EAR) were met by most children regardless of supplement usage, with the exception of boys aged Supplement use among children has been examined in recent surveys conducted in the USA, Canada, Australia and European countries, with prevalence rates approximating 25-45 % in children and 15-30 % in adolescents. In general, prevalence rates were higher among younger children than pre-adolescents and adolescents (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29) . Supplement use among children has been characterised by high parental education and income levels, having better nutrient intakes, lower prevalence of overweight and obesity and having a healthier lifestyle (22,26,28,30) .…”