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. 2018 Aug 17;10(8):1114.
doi: 10.3390/nu10081114.

Dietary Supplement Use Differs by Socioeconomic and Health-Related Characteristics among U.S. Adults, NHANES 2011⁻2014

Alexandra E Cowan  1 , Shinyoung Jun  2 , Jaime J Gahche  3 , Janet A Tooze  4 , Johanna T Dwyer  5 , Heather A Eicher-Miller  6 , Anindya Bhadra  7 , Patricia M Guenther  8 , Nancy Potischman  9 , Kevin W Dodd  10 , Regan L Bailey  11
Affiliations

Dietary Supplement Use Differs by Socioeconomic and Health-Related Characteristics among U.S. Adults, NHANES 2011⁻2014

Alexandra E Cowan et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of use and types of dietary supplements (DS) used by U.S. adults (≥19 years) by sociodemographic characteristics: family income-to-poverty ratio (PIR), food security status, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation using NHANES 2011⁻2014 data (n = 11,024). DS use was ascertained via a home inventory and a retrospective 30-day questionnaire. Demographic and socioeconomic differences related to DS use were evaluated using a univariate t statistic. Half of U.S. adults (52%) took at least one DS during a 30-day period; multivitamin-mineral (MVM) products were the most commonly used (31%). DS and MVM use was significantly higher among those with a household income of ≥ 350% of the poverty level, those who were food secure, and SNAP income-ineligible nonparticipants across all sex, age, and race/ethnic groups. Among women, prevalence of use significantly differed between SNAP participants (39%) and SNAP income-eligible nonparticipants (54%). Older adults (71+ years) remained the highest consumers of DS, specifically among the highest income group (82%), while younger adults (19⁻30 years), predominantly in the lowest income group (28%), were the lowest consumers. Among U.S. adults, DS use and the types of products consumed varied with income, food security, and SNAP participation.

Keywords: NHANES; SNAP; dietary supplements; income; nutrients.

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Conflict of interest statement

A.E.C., S.J., J.J.G., J.A.T., H.E.M., A.B., P.M.G., N.P., and K.W.D. have no conflicts of interest. R.L.B. is a consultant to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements and has received travel support and honorarium from the Council of Responsible Nutrition. J.T.D. had stocks in several drug companies, and serves on the scientific advisory boards of Conagra Foods, McCormick Spices, and Bay State Milling. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results.

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