B-Vitamin Intakes of Elderly Supplement and Non-Supplement Users in NHANES III

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to report dietary and combined (diet + supplements) intakes for thiamin, riboflavin, folate, Vitamins B-6 and B-12 for elderly supplement and non-supplement users (adults ≥ 60 years old) from NHANES III, 1988-94, and the prevalence of inadequate intakes using the 1998 Estimated Average Requirements (EARs) for thiamin, riboflavin, and Vitamins B-6 and B-12, and 77 percent of the 1980 folate RDA. The highest prevalences of inadequate dietary intakes were for Vitamin B-6 (24-46%), folate (58-82%), and Vitamin B-12 (24-34% for females only). There were significant differences across race/ethnic groups in the prevalences of inadequate dietary intakes for each vitamin (p ≤.0001 for each comparison), with non-Hispanic whites always having the lowest prevalences of inadequacy. Use of supplements reduced the risk of inadequacy, but only two-thirds or fewer elderly adults took supplements containing these B Vitamins.

Key Words:

• NHANES III
• elderly
• dietary intake
• supplement use
• B Vitamins