Intake of micronutrients among Danish adult users and non-users of dietary supplements

Figures & data

Table 1. Variables significantly associated with use of dietary supplements (P < 0.05) in a Danish representative adult population (N = 4,479*)

	Total n	User n (%)	OR	95% CI	P-value
Sex
Female	2,375	1,424 (60)	1.34	1.18–1.51	<0.0001
Male	2,104	1,078 (51)	1.00
Age group					<0.0001
18–25 years	522	233 (45)	0.46	0.37–0.57	<0.0001
26–35 years	869	466 (54)	0.64	0.53–0.77	0.5717
36–45 years	965	504 (52)	0.60	0.50–0.72	0.0766
46–55 years	976	561 (57)	0.74	0.62–0.88	0.0762
56–75 years	1147	738 (64)	1.00
Intention to eat healthy					<0.0001
Very often	1,476	904 (61)	1.99	1.57–2.53	<0.0001
Often	1,780	1,024 (58)	1.89	1.50–2.38	<0.0001
Sometimes	814	405 (50)	1.50	1.17–1.93	0.6616
No	378	152 (40)	1.00

OR – odds ratio; CI – confidence interval.

Missing values n = 31.

*Stepwise backward logistic regression analyses.

Table 2. Intake of vitamins and minerals among males (n=1,250) aged 18–49 years divided into non-users and users of dietary supplements (median, 5 and 95 percentiles)

		Non-users (n=663)		Users (n=587)
		Dietary intake		Dietary intake		Total intake
		Median	(P5; P95)	Median^a	(P5; P95)	Median	(P5; P95)
Energy intake	MJ	10.8	(6.4; 16)	10.8	(6.7; 16)	10.8	(6.7; 16)
Vitamins
Vitamin A	RE^b	1,008	(428; 2,507)	1,061	(426; 2,381)	1,678	(849; 3,138)
Vitamin C	Mg	87	(33; 191)	96**	(37; 200)	146	(68; 265)
Vitamin D	µg	2.7		2.8	(1.3; 9.5)	7.8	(3.0; 16)
Vitamin E	mg^c	7.3	(3.6; 13)	7.5	(3.8; 14)	23	(11; 47)
Thiamine	Mg	1.4	(0.8; 2.2)	1.4	(0.8; 2.3)	2.9	(1.5; 4.6)
Riboflavin	Mg	1.8	(0.9; 3.2)	1.8	(1.0; 3.0)	3.3	(1.8; 5.3)
Vitamin B6	Mg	1.6	(0.9; 2.5)	1.6	(0.9; 2.5)	3.8	(1.8; 5.8)
Vitamin B12	µg	5.3	(2.4; 11)	5.6	(2.5; 11)	7.1	(3.9; 13)
Folate	µg	311	(167; 512)	320*	(178; 529)	493	(300; 779)
Niacin	NE^d	33	(20; 53)	34	(20; 51)	48	(30; 69)
Minerals
Calcium	Mg	1,043	(514; 1,937)	1,125**	(569; 1,931)	1,228	(654; 2,029)
Iodine	µg	212	(114; 352)	214	(125; 337)	321	(184; 480)
Iron	Mg	11	(6.7; 17)	11	(6.7; 17)	19	(11; 30)
Phosphorus	Mg	1521	(862; 2,423)	1,556	(895; 2,439)	1,556	(895; 2,439)
Potassium	Mg	3,604	(2,271; 5,841)	3,796	(2,310; 5,631)	3,799	(2,316; 5,634)
Selenium	µg	42	(23; 66)	43	(26; 68)	89	(43; 135)
Sodium	Mg	4,228	(2,473; 6,613)	4,262	(2,471; 6,443)	4,262	(2,471; 6,443)
Zinc	Mg	13	(7.5; 19)	13	(7.5; 18)	24	(13; 36)

^aDifferences in dietary intake between users and non-users of dietary supplements were tested with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for the different micronutrients. Only significant differences are indicated.

P-values for the difference in dietary intake: *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p < 0.001.

^bOne retinolequivalent (RE) = 1 µg retinol = 12 µg ß-carotene.

^cα-tocopherolækvivalenter = 1 mg RRR-α-tocopherol.

^dNiacinequivalents (NE) = 1 mg niacin = 60 mg tryptophan.

Table 3. Intake of vitamins and minerals among females (n=1,496) aged 18–49 years divided into non-users and users of dietary supplements (median, 5 and 95 percentiles)

		Non-users (n=671)		Users (n=825)
		Dietary intake		Dietary intake		Total intake
Micronutrient		Median	(P5; P95)	Median^a	(P5; P95)	Median	(P5; P95)
Energy intake	MJ	8.2	(4.7; 12)	8.4	(5.2; 12)	8.4	(5.2; 12)
Vitamins
Vitamin A	RE^b	771	(322; 1,984)	824*	(370; 1,842)	1,504	(708; 2,607)
Vitamin C	Mg	88	(34; 216)	93	(39; 211)	145	(70; 283)
Vitamin D	µg	2.0	(0.9; 7.3)	2.1*	(0.9; 7.7)	7.6	(2.4; 15)
Vitamin E	mgc	6.1	(3.2; 11)	6.5***	(3.6; 11)	24	(8; 47)
Thiamin	Mg	1.0	(0.5; 1.6)	1.1***	(0.6; 1.7)	2.7	(1.1; 4.5)
Riboflavin	Mg	1.3	(0.7; 2.4)	1.4***	(0.8; 2.4)	3.1	(1.4; 4.9)
Vitamin B6	Mg	1.2	(0.7; 1.9)	1.3**	(0.8; 1.9)	3.8	(1.4; 5.7)
Vitamin B12	µg	3.8	(1.7; 8.0)	4.0***	(1.9; 7.9)	5.8	(3.0; 10)
Folate	µg	264	(142; 492)	290***	(163; 474)	473	(256; 718)
Niacin	NE^d	25	(14; 38)	25	(16; 37)	41	(24; 59)
Minerals
Calcium	Mg	939	(450; 1,675)	1014***	(542; 1,712)	1,130	(630; 1,881)
Iodine	µg	165	(88; 272)	173**	(102; 268)	283	(155; 417)
Iron	Mg	8.4	(4.9; 13)	8.9**	(5.4; 13)	18	(8.4; 41)
Phosphorus	Mg	1,190	(687; 1,913)	1261***	(764; 1,921)	1,261	(764; 1,921)
Potassium	Mg	2,984	(1,691; 4,749)	3032	(1,915; 4,606)	3,038	(1,920; 4,609)
Selenium	µg	32	(18; 52)	33***	(20; 52)	87	(30; 120)
Sodium	Mg	3,087	(1,719; 4,978)	3175	(1,901; 4,718)	3,175	(1,901; 4,718)
Zinc	Mg	9.4	(5.6; 14)	9.7**	(6.3; 14)	22	(9.2; 30)

^aDifferences in dietary intake between users and non-users of dietary supplements were tested with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for the different micronutrients. Only significant differences are indicated.

P-values for the difference in dietary intake: *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001.

^bOne retinolequivalent (RE) = 1 µg retinol = 12 µg ß-carotene = 2 µg supplemental ß-carotene.

^cα-tocopherolækvivalenter = 1 mg RRR-α-tocopherol.

^dNiacinequivalents (NE) = 1 mg niacin = 60 mg tryptophan.

Table 4. Intake of vitamins and minerals among males (n=854) aged 50–75 years divided into non-users and users of dietary supplements (median, 5 and 95 percentiles)

		Non-users (n=363)		Users (n=491)
		Dietary intake		Dietary intake		Total intake
Micronutrient		Median	(P5; P95)	Median^a	(P5; P95)	Median	(P5; P95)
Energy intake	MJ	9.6	(5.1; 15)	9.5	(5.9; 14)	9.5	(5.9; 14)
Vitamins
Vitamin A	RE^b	960	(392; 2,861)	1,001	(418; 2,788)	1,668	(775; 3,334)
Vitamin C	Mg	80	(29; 191)	92***	(37; 193)	147	(69; 266)
Vitamin D	µg	2.9	(1.2; 9.4)	3.1	(1.2; 9.8)	8.4	(2.7; 16)
Vitamin E	mg^c	6.8	(3.0; 13)	6.8	(3.2; 13)	26	(10.6; 51)
Thiamin	Mg	1.2	(0.6; 2.1)	1.2	(0.7; 2.0)	2.9	(1.1; 4.3)
Riboflavin	Mg	1.5	(0.7; 2.7)	1.6	(0.9; 2.7)	3.3	(1.4; 5.4)
Vitamin B6	Mg	1.5	(0.7; 2.3)	1.5	(0.9; 2.3)	4.2	(1.4; 6.3)
Vitamin B12	µg	5.0	(2.0; 12)	5.1	(2.3; 12)	6.9	(3.7; 15)
Folate	µg	282	(131; 537)	303*	(161; 550)	496	(251; 785)
Niacin	NE^d	32	(18; 49)	31	(19; 46)	48	(27; 69)
Minerals
Calcium	Mg	829	(351; 1,492)	859*	(402; 1,639)	970	(479; 1,785)
Iodine	µg	178	(89; 304)	179	(98; 301)	298	(146; 433)
Iron	Mg	11	(5.3; 17)	11	(6.1; 16)	20	(9.0; 28)
Phosphorus	Mg	1,335	(712; 2,096)	1,355	(789; 2,101)	1,355	(789; 2,101)
Potassium	Mg	3,600	(1,986; 5,504)	3,717	(2,224; 5,454)	3,721	(2,228; 5,457)
Selenium	µg	38	(19; 65)	39	(22; 61)	94	(32; 128)
Sodium	Mg	3,560	(1,862; 6,331)	3,517	(2,020; 5,873)	3,517	(2,020; 5,873)
Zinc	Mg	11	(6.3; 18)	11	(6.6; 17)	23	(9.5; 32)

^aDifferences in dietary intake between users and non-users of dietary supplements were tested with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for the different micronutrients. Only significant differences are indicated.

P-values for the difference in dietary intake: *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.

^bOne retinolequivalent (RE) = 1 µg retinol = 12 µg ß-carotene = 2 µg supplemental ß-carotene.

^cα-tocopherolækvivalenter = 1 mg RRR-α-tocopherol.

^dNiacinequivalents (NE) = 1 mg niacin = 60 mg tryptophan.

Table 5. Intake of vitamins and minerals among females (n=879) aged 50–75 years divided into non-users and users of dietary supplements (median, 5 and 95 percentiles)

		Non-users (n=280)		Users (n=599)
		Dietary intake		Dietary intake		Total intake
Micronutrient		Median	(P5; P95)	Median^a	(P5; P95)	Median	(P5; P95)
Energy intake	MJ	7.5	(4.6; 11)	7.7	(4.7; 11)	7.7	(4.7; 11)
Vitamins
Vitamin A	RE^b	841	(383; 2,865)	847	(360; 2,279)	1,592	(642; 2,935)
Vitamin C	Mg	91	(38; 227)	102	(38; 250)	156	(69; 326)
Vitamin D	µg	2.3	(1.0; 7.7)	2.5	(1.0; 7.9)	8.3	(2.3; 17)
Vitamin E	mg^c	6.1	(2.9; 11)	6.3	(3.4; 12)	26	(11; 50)
Thiamin	Mg	1.0	(0.6; 1.6)	1.0	(0.6; 1.6)	2.8	(0.9; 4.0)
Riboflavin	Mg	1.3	(0.7; 2.5)	1.3	(0.7; 2.4)	3.1	(1.1; 5.0)
Vitamin B6	Mg	1.2	(0.7; 2.0)	1.3	(0.8; 2.1)	4.2	(1.1; 5.9)
Vitamin B12	µg	4.0	(1.8; 12)	4.0	(1.8; 8.9)	5.8	(2.7; 13)
Folate	µg	278	(135; 543)	291	(153; 519)	495	(233; 791)
Niacin	NE^d	26	(15; 41)	26	(16; 37)	43	(22; 61)
Minerals
Calcium	mg	834	(382; 1,524)	864*	(420; 1,589)	1,018	(544; 1,899)
Iodine	µg	154	(81; 264)	159	(86; 278)	282	(120; 433)
Iron	mg	8.6	(5.0; 13)	8.7	(5.3; 13)	19	(7.0; 26)
Phosphorus	mg	1,133	(647; 1,837)	1,164	(681; 1,906)	1,164	(681; 1,906)
Potassium	mg	3,118	(2,012; 4,707)	3,260	(2,051; 5,041)	3,264	(2,057; 5,047)
Selenium	µg	32	(18; 56)	32	(18; 53)	92	(27; 122)
Sodium	mg	2,756	(1,514; 4,170)	2,766	(1,572; 4,179)	2,766	(1,572; 4,179)
Zinc	mg	9.0	(5.5; 14)	9.3	(5.6; 14)	23	(7.2; 29)

^aDifferences in dietary intake between users and non-users of dietary supplements were tested with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for the different micronutrients. Only significant differences are indicated.

P-values for the difference in dietary intake: *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001.

^bOne retinolequivalent (RE) = 1 µg retinol = 12 µg dietary ß-carotene = 2 µg supplemental ß-carotene.

^cα-tocopherolækvivalenter = 1 mg RRR-α-tocopherol.

^dNiacinequivalents (NE) = 1 mg niacin = 60 mg tryptophan.