Multivitamin/Multimineral Supplement Use is Associated with Increased Micronutrient Intakes and Biomarkers and Decreased Prevalence of Inadequacies and Deficiencies in Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States

Abstract

Micronutrient inadequacies are common in older adults and using a multivitamin/multimineral supplement (MVM) may improve their nutritional status. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data were analyzed to determine micronutrient intakes based on diet and MVM use in adults aged ≥51 years. Deficiencies were evaluated using nutrient biomarkers. The National Cancer Institute Method was used to estimate usual intakes of 18 micronutrients stratified by age and frequency of MVM use. Compared with food alone, MVM use was associated with higher nutrient intake and lower prevalence of inadequacies of almost all micronutrients examined and improved nutrient biomarker status of folate, iodine, selenium, and vitamins B₆, B₁₂, and D. Regular MVM use (≥16 days/month) decreased the odds of clinical deficiency (defined by biomarker status) of vitamins B₆ and D but increased the proportion exceeding the tolerable upper intake level of folic acid. Vitamin B₆ deficiency in MVM non-users was common and increased with age.

Keywords:

• Biomarker
• folic acid
• micronutrient
• multi-vitamin/multi-mineral supplements
• NHANES
• nutrition
• vitamin D
• vitamin B6

Acknowledgments

Medical writing support was provided by Dennis Stancavish of Peloton Advantage, LLC, and was funded by Pfizer. This manuscript has not been published elsewhere and has not been submitted simultaneously for publication elsewhere. BF serves as a healthcare professional consultant for Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. AVS is an employee of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. CRY is an employee of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. JWvK is an employee of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. MA was an employee of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare at the time this manuscript was developed.

Data availability

Upon request, and subject to certain criteria, conditions and exceptions see https://www.pfizer.com/science/clinical-trials/trial-data-and-results for more information, Pfizer will provide access to individual de-identified participant data from Pfizer-sponsored global interventional clinical studies conducted for medicines, vaccines and medical devices (1) for indications that have been approved in the US and/or EU or (2) in programs that have been terminated (i.e. development for all indications has been discontinued). Pfizer will also consider requests for the protocol, data dictionary, and statistical analysis plan. Data may be requested from Pfizer trials 24 months after study completion. The de-identified participant data will be made available to researchers whose proposals meet the research criteria and other conditions, and for which an exception does not apply, via a secure portal. To gain access, data requestors must enter into a data access agreement with Pfizer.

Additional information

Funding

TCW received research funding for this study from Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. CLF reports grants from Think Healthy Group during the conduct of the study and support from EpidStat outside the submitted work.