Multivitamin/mineral supplement contribution to micronutrient intakes in the United States, 2007-2010.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional observational study of nationally representative survey data
PubMed 24724766 · doi:10.1080/07315724.2013.846806
What was done
Analyzed dietary and multivitamin/mineral (MVMM; defined as containing ≥9 micronutrients) supplement data from 16,444 US residents aged 4 years and older in the 2007–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The National Cancer Institute method was applied to model usual intakes of 21 micronutrients from both food and supplements and compare them against Dietary Reference Intake thresholds (EAR, AI, and UL).
What was found
MVMM supplements were consumed by 51% of Americans. When combining food and supplement sources, total usual intakes remained below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for vitamin D (74%), vitamin E (67%), magnesium (46%), calcium (39%), vitamin A (35%), and vitamin C (31%). Total intake reached or exceeded Adequate Intake (AI) in only 0% for potassium, 8% for choline, and 33% for vitamin K. Intake exceeding the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) was very low overall; zinc had the highest excess rate at 3.5%.
Why it matters
These findings show that even with widespread multivitamin/mineral supplement use, substantial micronutrient shortfalls persist in the US diet, while excess intake above safety limits remains relatively rare.
Limits
Relies on cross-sectional, self-reported dietary recall and supplement questionnaires subject to recall error and reporting bias. Objective blood biomarkers of nutrient status and clinical health outcomes were not evaluated.
Cited by
- supports Approximately 50% of the population does not consume sufficient dietary magnesium.