Dietary Supplement Use among U.S. Children by Family Income, Food Security Level, and Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Status in 2011⁻2014.

Shinyoung Jun,Regan Bailey,Jaime Gahche,Heather Eicher-Miller,Johanna Dwyer,Nancy Potischman,Kevin Dodd,Anindya Bhadra,Janet Tooze,Alexandra Cowan,Patricia Guenther

doi:10.3390/nu10091212

Abstract

This analysis characterizes use of dietary supplements (DS) and motivations for DS use among U.S. children (≤18 years) by family income level, food security status, and federal nutrition assistance program participation using the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. About one-third (32%) of children used DS, mostly multivitamin-minerals (MVM; 24%). DS and MVM use were associated with higher family income and higher household food security level. DS use was lowest among children in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP; 20%) and those participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC; 26%) compared to both income-eligible and income-ineligible nonparticipants. Most children who used DS took only one (83%) or two (12%) products; although children in low-income families took fewer products than those in higher income families. The most common motivations for DS and MVM use were to “improve (42% or 46%)” or “maintain (34 or 38%)” health, followed by “to supplement the diet (23 or 24%)” for DS or MVM, respectively. High-income children were more likely to use DS and MVM “to supplement the diet” than middle- or low-income children. Only 18% of child DS users took DS based on a health practitioner’s recommendation. In conclusion, DS use was lower among children who were in low-income or food-insecure families, or families participating in nutrition assistance programs.

Highlights

Dietary supplement (DS) use is widespread in the United States
There was a significant trend toward lower DS use with increasing age
DS are used by about a third of U.S children, with most child DS users using MVM or multivitamins and taking only one product in a 30-d period

Summary

Introduction

Dietary supplement (DS) use is widespread in the United States. More than half of adults [1,2]and approximately one-third of infants, children, and adolescents ( children) use DS [3].The use of DS is associated with socioeconomic status indicators such as family income level and food security in adults [4,5,6] and children [7,8,9,10]. Dietary supplement (DS) use is widespread in the United States. More than half of adults [1,2]. The use of DS is associated with socioeconomic status indicators such as family income level and food security in adults [4,5,6] and children [7,8,9,10]. Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) demonstrated that children using DS tended to Nutrients 2018, 10, 1212; doi:10.3390/nu10091212 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients. Nutrients 2018, 10, 1212 have higher income [9]. In a study using the 1999–2004 NHANES data, children using micronutrient supplement were more likely to have higher food security [8]. Whether the type of DS used and motivations for their use differ by socioeconomic status remain unclear

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion