University of Massachusetts Medical School Faculty Publications

Title

Micronutrient Intake among Children in Puerto Rico: Dietary and Multivitamin-Multimineral Supplement Sources

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine; UMass Worcester Prevention Research Center

Publication Date

2016-07-20

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Alternative and Complementary Medicine | Chemical Actions and Uses | Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition | Human and Clinical Nutrition | Pediatrics | Pharmaceutical Preparations | Public Health | Therapeutics

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Micronutrients are critical for healthy growth and development of children. Micro-nutrient intake from dietary sources is inadequate among some children and may be improved by use of multivitamin and multimineral (MVMM) supplements.

OBJECTIVE: To assess micronutrient intake from dietary and MVMM supplement sources among 12-year-old children in Puerto Rico.

METHODS: A representative sample of 732 children enrolled in an oral health study in Puerto Rico, who completed dietary and MVMM assessments through one 24-h recall, were included in this analysis. Micronutrient intake sources were described and compared to the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) using the Estimated Average Requirement when available (used Adequate Intake for vitamin K and pantothenic acid). Micronutrient profiles of MVMM users and non-users were compared using t-tests.

RESULTS: Mean intakes of vitamins A, D, E, and K, pantothenic acid, cal-cium, and magnesium from food and beverage sources were below the DRIs. From food and beverage sources, MVMM users had higher intakes of riboflavin and folate compared to non-users (p < 0.05). When MVMM supplements were taken into account, users had higher in-takes of all nutrients except vitamin K. With the help of MVMM, users increased intake of vita-mins E, A, D, and pantothenic acid to IOM-recommended levels but calcium, magnesium, and vitamin K remained below guidelines.

CONCLUSION: Micronutrient intake from diet was below the IOM-recommended levels in the total sample. MVMM use improved intake of selected micronu-trients and facilitated meeting recommendations for some nutrients. Public health measures to improve micronutrient intake among children in Puerto Rico are needed.

Keywords

Children, Hispanics, Puerto Rico, dietary supplements, micronutrient intake

DOI of Published Version

10.1024/0300-9831/a000252

Source

Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2016 Jul 20:1-11. Link to article on publisher's site

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

Journal/Book/Conference Title

International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition

PubMed ID

27439655

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