The Total Nutrient Index is a Useful Measure for Assessing Total Micronutrient Exposures Among US Adults

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Dietary Assessment
• Public Health

Background:

• Traditional dietary indices often exclude dietary supplements (DS), overlooking substantial micronutrient contributions.
• A comprehensive nutrient-based approach is needed to accurately assess total micronutrient exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the construct and criterion validity of the Total Nutrient Index (TNI) in US adults.
• To assess the TNI's ability to capture total micronutrient intake from both foods and DS.

Main Methods:

• The TNI was developed using 8 underconsumed micronutrients (calcium, magnesium, potassium, choline, vitamins A, C, D, E).
• Data from exemplary menus and NHANES surveys (2003-2014) were used for validation.
• TNI scores were correlated with the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 and biomarker data.

Main Results:

• The TNI demonstrated high scores on exemplary menus (84.8-93.3/100) and moderate correlation with HEI-2015 (r=0.48).
• TNI scores were significantly higher for DS users, nonsmokers, and food-secure individuals.
• TNI vitamin component correlations with biomarkers were higher than diet-alone correlations.

Conclusions:

• The Total Nutrient Index (TNI) is a valid and useful tool for assessing total micronutrient exposure in US adults.
• The TNI provides a more complete picture of nutrient intake by incorporating dietary supplements.