ARS | Publication request: SELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVE MULTIVITAMIN PRODUCTS BASED ON % DAILY VALUE LEVELS FOR SPECIFIC NUTRIENTS

Submitted to: Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 26, 2005
Publication Date: April 2, 2005
Citation: Andrews, K., Zhao, C., Holden, J.M., Perry, C., Schweitzer, A., Wolf, W.R., Harnly, J.M., Dwyer, J., Picciano, M., Saldanha, L., Fisher, K., Betz, J., Yetley, E., Radimer, K., Bindewald, B. Selection of representative multivitamin products based on % daily value levels for specific nutrients. Experimental Biology Conference, April 2-6, 2005.

Technical Abstract: A process for identifying representative multivitamin products based on specific ingredient levels has been developed using the dietary supplement files from the National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey (NHANES) 1999-2000 data set. 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) that contained at least one of the Tier 1 nutrients were converted to their % Daily Value (% DV), which are the recommended daily amounts based on a 2000 calorie diet. For each of the six nutrients, 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 were 75%, 100%, and 250%. For Vitamins A, E and C, the range for the most frequently used % DV was 50-400%. The most common % DV levels for iron in multivitamins were 100%, 50%, and 150%. In contrast, for calcium containing multivitamins, the most common calcium level consisted of 16% DV, with 20% DV and 10% DV being the next most common. Five products representing each of these % DV levels were chosen for analysis in order to test for any systematic relationship between label values and actual values. This project was funded by ODS/NIH Y4-HV-0051-05.