Self-Reported Dietary Supplement Use Is Confirmed by Biological Markers in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa)

Abstract

Background/Aims: A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a database for dietary supplements were developed for use in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation between reported use and biomarkers in supplement and nonsupplement users and to validate self-reported intake of dietary supplements in mid pregnancy. Method: 120 women were recruited from MoBa, and 119 subjects completed the MoBa FFQ and a 4-day weighed food diary. Information on supplement use was collected by both methods. Venous blood specimens and 24-hour urine samples were obtained for measurement of dietary biomarkers. Results: Biomarker concentration/excretion and intake differed significantly between supplement and nonsupplement users for vitamin D, carotenoids, folate, the n–6/n–3 fatty acid ratio and iodine (p < 0.05 for all variables). Flavonoid excretion was higher in flavonoid-supplement users (p < 0.05). Significant correlations between total dietary intake (food and supplements) and biomarker concentration/excretion were found for vitamin D (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), folate (r = 0.26, p = 0.005), the n–6/n–3 fatty acid ratio (r = 0.36, p < 0.001) and iodine (r = 0.42, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The biochemical indicators examined in this study confirmed differences in self-reported micronutrient intake between supplement and nonsupplement users for vitamin D, beta-carotene, folate, n–3 fatty acids, flavonoids and iodine.

Exploration of biomarkers for total fish intake in pregnant Norwegian women

“…2). We have previously reported a significant positive correlation Table 4 Coefficients in regression models with all variables standardized to unit means, describing the association between the potential biomarkers and total fish/seafood intake and separate items of fish/seafood intake: subset of pregnant women (n 118 for arsenic, Hg and Se; n 94 for DHA) in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) Total fish/seafood Tuna Spread/fatty fish Lean/processed Shellfish between the erythrocyte membrane phospholipid n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio and dietary n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio (24) . Williams et al found a strong positive correlation for frequency of fish consumption in early pregnancy with both erythrocyte DHA and EPA (37) , whereas Parra et al, like us, found a significant positive association between dietary intake and erythrocyte DHA, but not EPA (31) .…”

“…FoodCalc (22) and the Norwegian food composition table (23) were used for calculating nutrients from food. A database containing details of the declared content of supplements was developed for the calculation of nutrients from dietary supplements (24) . …”

Suboptimal Maternal Iodine Intake Is Associated with Impaired Child Neurodevelopment at 3 Years of Age in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study

“…In fact, the FFQ correlation coefficients for the calculated iodine intake and major iodine food sources were higher than for most other foods and nutrients, indicating a regular consumption pattern of food items containing iodine (21). In nonusers of iodine supplements, the estimated median iodine intake from food was 122 mg/d from the FFQ, 120 mg/d from the 4-d food diary, and 122 mg/d based on 24-h urinary iodine excretion data (assuming that 90% is excreted in the urine) (22,23).…”

Estimating the impact of mandatory folic acid fortification on the folic acid intake of Australian women of childbearing age

“…US studies reported a range of 455-537 µg/day median intake in 1999 29 and a median of 217 µg/day in 2007, 26 and a study in Norway reported a median intake of 633 µg/day. 30 The variation observed with these findings may be due to differences in dietary patterns, level of fortification and differences in supplement use among the target population.…”