Effect of a Single Multi-Vitamin and Mineral Supplement on Nutritional Intake in Korean Elderly: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2018-2020

Abstract

Inadequate nutritional intake is common, especially among elderly individuals. Although micronutrient intake may help fill nutritional gaps, the effects of multi-vitamin and mineral supplements (MVMS) among the Korean elderly are not well known. Therefore, we investigated the nutrition-improving effects of a single MVMS. A total of 2478 people aged ≥65 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey 2018-2020 were analyzed. Nutrient intake from food and supplements was measured using the 24 h recall method. We compared the nutritional intake and insufficiency between the food-only group (n = 2170) and the food and MVMS group (n = 308). We also evaluated the differences in inadequate nutritional intake after taking MVMS with food. The analysis included vitamins A and C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, iron, and phosphorus. The proportion of insufficient intake ranged from 6.2% to 80.5% for men and from 21.2% to 82.4% for women, depending on the nutrients. Intake of MVMS with food was associated with lower rates of inadequacy (3.8-68.5% for men and 3.3-75.5% for women) compared to the food-only group. The results suggest that micronutrient deficiency frequently occurs in the Korean elderly population and can be improved by MVMS intake.

Keywords: aged; dietary supplements; minerals; nutrition surveys; vitamins.

Figure 1

Flow chart of participations. Abbreviations: KNHANES, Korean National Nutrition and Health Survey; MVMS, multi-vitamin and mineral supplements; DS, dietary supplements.

Figure 2

The percent of elderly whose intake was below EAR before and after taking MVMS in the MVMS user group; (A) males and (B) females. Abbreviations: EAR, estimated average requirement; MVMS, multi-vitamin and mineral supplements.