| Abstract: | The relationship between dietary adequacy and supplement use was examined in 3,227 nonpregnant women aged 15 to 41 years from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Twenty-five percent of the women used dietary supplements regularly; 67% of them consumed some form of multivitamin. Supplement users had a higher income and education, were more often white, had a leaner body composition, and were more likely to reside in the western United States than nonusers. Caloric intake of users and non-users was similar. However, independent of the supplements, the diets of supplement users contained significantly more dietary protein, phosphorus, iron, potassium, thiamin, and niacin than the diets of non-users. A considerable portion of both users and non-users had dietary intakes of less than 50% of the Recommended Dietary Allowances for calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C; however, a significantly greater proportion of supplement non-users had low intakes of iron and vitamin C. Supplement users generally consumed a more nutrient-dense diet and may be the individuals who least need supplements. |
