Abstract P082: Prevalence and Trends in Dietary Supplement Use Among Diabetic Adults: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1999-2014

Abstract

With increasing diabetes prevalence in the US general population, many nutritional supplements are taken as alternative medicine by diabetic patients. However, serial trends or patterns in their dietary supplement use are unknown. Using the nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected between 1999 and 2014, we evaluated prevalence and trends of use of any supplements, multi-vitamins/multi-minerals (MVMM), individual vitamins, minerals, and non-vitamin, non-mineral supplements. Information on supplement use in the preceding 30 days was collected during the interview over 8 continuous 2-year waves. Analyses were conducted among 6,348 US diabetic adults aged 20 to 85 years (pregnant women excluded) and also stratified by age, race/ethnicity, gender, educational backgrounds, comorbidity status, and comorbidity status. Overall, the prevalence of use of any supplement (52%-59%; P for trend=.09) and that of any mineral (47%-51%; P for trend=.24) seemed stable. Use of MVMM decreased from 36% of reported use in 1999-2000 to 32% in 2013-2014 ( P for trend=.008). Use of any vitamin products increased from 47% to 53% ( P for trend=.04). Use of a few individual supplements including lycopene, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 significantly increased. The trend of supplement use varied by sex and race/ethnicity. In conclusion, among diabetic patients in the United States, use of any dietary supplements or any minerals remained stable, use of MVMM slightly decreased, and use of any vitamins and several individual supplements increased over the past 16 years.