title: Do vitamin and mineral supplements improve the dietary intake of elderly Canadians?
abstract: The prevalence of nutritional supplementation and the relationship of the adequacy of the diet to the use of nutritional supplements was investigated in a group of 82 healthy, free-living elderly Canadians. Dietary data included a seven-day food record and the reported daily intake of vitamin or mineral supplements. 43% of the men and 62% of the women reported using vitamin and/or mineral supplements during the preceding year. Current use (at the time of interview) was reported in 35% of the study subjects. Supplement users did not differ from non-users in terms of dietary intake from diet alone for any of the nutrients compared. Few subjects corrected inadequate intakes by the use of nutrient supplements; in fact, most supplements were consumed by those not at risk of deficiency for the particular vitamin or mineral. Reliance upon vitamin and/or mineral supplementation for adequate nutrient intake without a dietary evaluation is not recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Payette
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gray-Donald
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009753:Nutritive Value; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins