ARS | Publication request: Identification of Representative Multivitamin Products in the United States Using % Daily Value Levels for High Priority Nutrients

Submitted to: International Food Data Base Conference Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: September 21, 2005
Publication Date: September 21, 2005
Citation: Andrews, K., Zhao, C., Holden, J.M., Perry, C., Schweitzer, A., Roseland, J.M., Wolf, W.R., Harnly, J.M., Dwyer, J., Picciano, M., Saldanha, L. Identification of representative multivitamin products in the united states using % daily value levels for high priority nutrients. 6th International Food Data Conference - Food Composition Data and the Nutrition Dilemma, September 2005, Pretoria, South Africa.

Technical Abstract: Objectives: National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey (NHANES) 1999-2000 dietary supplement data files were searched to identify representative multivitamin products based on specific ingredient levels. Method and Materials: Six high priority (Tier 1) nutrients (folic acid, Vitamins C, A and E, calcium and iron) were evaluated. The nutrient levels in all multivitamins (containing 3 or more vitamins) were converted to their % Daily Values (% DV), which are the recommended US daily intakes based on a 2000-calorie diet. For each of the six nutrients, queries were constructed using Structured Query Language (SQL) to sum the weighted frequency of use for each specific nutrient levels. Results and Conclusions: A distribution of % DV levels vs. weighted frequency of use showed 3-4 major % DV levels in the products. The 3 top %DV levels for folic acid, in rank order, were: 100%, 75%, and 250% DV. For Vitamins A, E and C, the range for the most frequently reported levels of % DV was 50-400%. The most common % DV levels for iron in multivitamins were, in order: 100%, 150% and 50%. In contrast, for calcium-containing multivitamins, the most common calcium level was 16% DV, with 20% DV being the next most common and followed by 10% and 45% DV. For each of the 6 nutrients, most of the multivitamin products fall within 3 to 4 major % DV levels. Five products representing each of these % DV levels will be statistically chosen for analysis in order to test for any systematic relationship between label values and actual values and their variability within the major % DV levels.