Chronic disease risk factors in vitamin/mineral supplement users and nonusers in a farm population.

Abstract

Dietary, anthropometric, and chronic disease risk factors (CDRF) in vitamin/mineral supplement users (U) and non-users (NU) were measured in a farm population consisting of 162 subjects (46% females and 54% males; 20-79 years of age, mean age: 52 years). Subjects were white, except for two black males. Supplements were used by 62 subjects (38%); 47% of females and 31% of males used supplements; 43% of subjects over 50 years of age and 32% of subjects age 50 or under used supplements. Both dietary intake and energy expenditure were measured using 4-day records. Indices of adiposity included body weight, BMI, and estimated body fat. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), serum ferritin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, zinc, copper, and vitamin C were based on 12-hr fasting blood samples. Dietary intake (excluding supplements) for vitamin/mineral U was greater than NU for vitamin C (p = 0.006), thiamin (p = 0.01), riboflavin (p = 0.03), niacin (p = 0.02), folic acid (p = 0.001), vitamin B6 (p = 0.01), and magnesium (p = 0.019). Vitamin C levels were significantly higher and the sum of four skinfolds was significantly lower among U than NU. In this population, 24% of males and 18% of females had TC levels over 240 mg%; 8% of both males and females had blood pressures (BP) greater than 140/90 mm Hg, while 49% of males and 46% of females had BP between 120/80 and 140/90; and 71% of males were more than 25% fat, and 56% of females were more than 35% fat. Despite the high prevalence of CDRF, there were no significant differences between supplement U and NU.

Vitamin-mineral supplement use and nutritional status of athletes.

“…Schutz et al [30] have reported that age, education, and gender are significantly associated with supplement use. SU was greater in females (47%) than males (31 %) in a farm population living in the same county as the present study [31]. One study [2] reported the following use of daily vita mins or minerals by a group of nonelite runners: multivitamin-mineral supplements, 22%; vitamin C, 13%; Bcomplex vitamins, 7%; Ca, 7%; vitamin E, 6%; Zn, 4%; and Fe supplements, 2%.…”

“…Males in the present study had a higher prevalence of supplement use (51%) than has been shown in previous reports. Thus, gender differences in supplement use reported in other populations [30,31] may be less impressive in athletes. Schutz et al [30] have reported that age, education, and gender are significantly associated with supplement use.…”

“…Classification of multivitamins plus Fe as an Fe supplement may account for the greater Fe supplement use by our subjects (15%). Farmers living in the same county tended to use vitamin C and Ca supplements more often and B complex vitamins less often [31] than these athletes.…”

“…SU tended to have greater intakes of all vitamins and minerals except Zn and Cu. Surveys of the general population have demonstrated that SU tend to have better dietary intakes than do NU [31][32][33]. Mean nutrient intakes from food exceeded two-thirds of the RDA for all nutrients.…”

Use of dietary supplements in Denmark is associated with health and former smoking

“…Among the supplements with no added nutrients the most common was fish oil followed by garlic products. Surveys from other countries also showed that the most frequently used supplement was multivitamin and mineral products 8,11,12 . In a Dutch survey, garlic supplements were reported to be one of the most widely used supplements, with 2% of the female participants reporting use of garlic supplements, and the use increased with age 5 .…”