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Vitamin supplement use, by demographic characteristics.
1Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-4200.
American Journal of Epidemiology
|February 1, 1988
Summary
Fewer Black individuals regularly use vitamin supplements compared to White individuals, with notable disparities in Vitamin E, A, and C intake. These patterns, observed in a 1971-1974 survey, remain representative of current US supplementation practices.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Detailed data on vitamin and mineral supplement consumption are crucial for understanding population health.
- Previous analyses lacked comprehensive demographic and behavioral correlations for supplement use.
- The first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) provides a unique dataset.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze detailed vitamin supplement use across diverse demographic and behavioral characteristics.
- To identify disparities in supplement consumption among different population subgroups.
- To assess the representativeness of 1971-1974 supplement use data for current practices.
Main Methods:
- Recoding and analysis of previously uncoded data from NHANES I (1971-1974).
- Examination of supplement use for nine specific vitamins and minerals.
- Multivariate analyses to explore joint distributions with demographic and behavioral factors.
Main Results:
- Significant disparities in regular vitamin supplement use were found between Black and White individuals.
- Consumption differences were particularly pronounced for Vitamin E (fourfold), Vitamin A (sixfold), and Vitamin C (tenfold).
- Supplement use varied significantly by age, sex, geographic region, education, poverty, alcohol consumption, and Quetelet index.
Conclusions:
- Racial disparities in vitamin supplement use are significant and warrant further investigation.
- Supplement use patterns identified in the 1971-1974 survey appear to be relatively stable and representative of current US practices.
- Understanding these patterns is vital for targeted public health interventions and nutritional guidance.