ARS | Publication request: Prevalence of Vitamins E and B12 in Dietary Supplements Reported in National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey (Nhanes)

Submitted to: International Conference of Dietary Assessment Methods
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 14, 2005
Publication Date: April 27, 2006
Citation: Holden, J.M., Zhao, C., Roseland, J.M., Andrews, K., Amy, S., Perry, C., Wolf, W.R., Harnly, J.M., Dwyer, J., Picciano, M., Saldanha, L., Fisher, K., Betz, J., Yetley, E., Radimer, K., Wilger, J. Prevalence of vitamins e and b12 in dietary supplements reported in national health and nutrition evaluation survey (nhanes). Sixth International Conference on Dietary Assessment Methods, April 27-29, 2006, Copenhagen Denmark.

Technical Abstract: Objectives: Public health concerns regarding excessive Vitamin E and deficient Vitamin B12 intake warrant evaluation of total dietary intake for these nutrients. A Dietary Supplement Ingredient Database is being developed by the Nutrient Data Laboratory with the Office of Dietary Supplements and other federal agencies. Method and Materials: During this project, dietary supplements containing Vitamin E or B12 were identified using label information from the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey (NHANES). Results and Conclusions: Of the 2200 reported supplement products, 695 products contained Vitamin E and 692 products contained Vitamin B12. Approximately 36% of the U.S. population reported taking a supplement containing Vitamin E and about 34% of the population reported taking a Vitamin B12-containing supplement within the past 30 days. Distribution of nutrient label levels versus number of reported products indicated the major levels of Vitamins E and B12. The most commonly reported products containing Vitamin E had label levels of 30 and 15 International Units per serving. Most commonly reported products containing Vitamin B12 had label amounts, in ranked order, of 6, 25 and 4.5 micrograms. The most commonly reported products had label amounts for Vitamin E (30 I.U.) and B12 (6 micrograms) at 100% of the U.S.Daily Value.