Multivitamin/Multimineral Supplement Use is Associated with Increased Micronutrient Intakes and Biomarkers and Decreased Prevalence of Inadequacies and Deficiencies in Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States

• Published in: Journal of nutrition in gerontology and geriatrics 2019-10, Vol.38 (4), p.307-328
• Main Authors: Wallace, Taylor C., Frankenfeld, Cara L., Frei, Balz, Shah, Alpa V., Yu, Ching-Ray, van Klinken, B. Jan-Willem, Adeleke, Maryann
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Avitaminosis - epidemiology; Biomarker; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Dietary Supplements - statistics & numerical data; Elder Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Female; Folic acid; Humans; Iodine; Male; micronutrient; Micronutrients; Micronutrients - administration & dosage; Micronutrients - deficiency; Middle Aged; multi-vitamin/multi-mineral supplements; NHANES; Nursing; Nutrient deficiency; nutrition; Nutrition Surveys; Nutritional Requirements; Nutritional Status; Older people; Prevalence; Selenium; Trace Elements - administration & dosage; United States - epidemiology; Vitamin B12; Vitamin B6; Vitamin D; Vitamins; Vitamins - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 2155-1197; 2155-1200
• DOI: 10.1080/21551197.2019.1656135

Micronutrient inadequacies are common in older adults and using a multivitamin/multimineral supplement (MVM) may improve their nutritional status. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data were analyzed to determine micronutrient intakes based on diet and MVM use in adults aged ≥51 years. Deficiencies were evaluated using nutrient biomarkers. The National Cancer Institute Method was used to estimate usual intakes of 18 micronutrients stratified by age and frequency of MVM use. Compared with food alone, MVM use was associated with higher nutrient intake and lower prevalence of inadequacies of almost all micronutrients examined and improved nutrient biomarker status of folate, iodine, selenium, and vitamins B 6 , B 12 , and D. Regular MVM use (≥16 days/month) decreased the odds of clinical deficiency (defined by biomarker status) of vitamins B 6 and D but increased the proportion exceeding the tolerable upper intake level of folic acid. Vitamin B 6 deficiency in MVM non-users was common and increased with age.