Nutrient consumption of individuals taking or not taking nutrient supplements
Bowerman, S.J.; Harrill, I.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association 83(3): 298-302 305
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-8223 PMID: 6886265 Document Number: 208458
A 3-day dietary record was completed by 150 persons 19 to 87 years old in Colorado, USA. Nutrient intake was calculated from tables of food composition and expressed per cent of the USA recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 1980 (NAR/A 51, 7316). They included 79 persons who took nutrient supplements; 37 took vitamin C, 28 took multivitamin and multimineral supplement, 23 took vitamin E, and 4 to 11 took each of the other 8 supplements. There was no significant difference between users and non-users of supplements in the mean intake of nutrients from diet, which generally met the RDA except for energy and zinc for both sexes and iron for the women under 50 years old. Intake from supplements is tabulated for each sex; the range was wide, and the most common intakes of most nutrients from supplements were at or near the RDA. For those few who had less than 67% of the RDA from diet, the supplements were greater than required to augment the diet. A few persons were taking potentially toxic amounts of supplementary vitamins A, E and C.