The research highlighted noteworthy variations in estimates of dietary complement use and nutrient consumption relying on the tactic used for evaluation. For an business the place correct measurement is central to analysis, monitoring and coverage, the findings increase probably impactful concerns.
“Legitimate dietary complement (DS) evaluation strategies are important for vitamin analysis and monitoring as DS contributes considerably towards micronutrient exposures for hundreds of thousands of People,” wrote researchers from Texas A&M College, Florida State College, NIH Workplace of Dietary Dietary supplements, Tufts College and Wake Forest College.
The research in contrast two broadly used dietary evaluation instruments: the Weight loss program Historical past Questionnaire-II (DHQII) and the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Recall (ASA24).
Key findings from the IDATA research
The evaluation concerned 795 individuals between the ages of fifty and 74 collaborating within the Interactive Weight loss program and Exercise Monitoring in American Affiliation of Retired Individuals (IDATA) cohort. Members offered a number of dietary complement stories utilizing each strategies. Outcomes revealed important variation within the reported prevalence of complement use throughout product classes.
As an example, multivitamin use was reported by 21% of members utilizing ASA24 however solely 3% with DHQII. Settlement between strategies on the particular person stage ranged broadly, and the authors famous, “prevalence of DS use various by product sort [13 of 28 comparisons differed in prevalence],” underscoring that the chosen device strongly influenced estimates of complement use.
Nutrient consumption estimates additionally diverged between strategies, notably for vitamin D. Imply every day consumption quantities from dietary supplements have been 24–45 μg/day utilizing ASA24, in contrast with 12–14 μg/day utilizing DHQII, which the authors famous as a statistically important distinction.
“The selection of the DS measurement device used is impactful for assessing whole nutrient exposures [and] has implications for decoding weight-reduction plan and well being relationships and vitamin and monitoring,” the researchers concluded.
A give attention to calcium and vitamin D reporting
Calcium and vitamin D have been chosen as focus vitamins on account of their excessive prevalence in complement use and public well being relevance. Whereas calcium consumption estimates have been typically comparable between strategies, patterns differed by intercourse.
Amongst feminine complement customers, calcium intakes have been greater when reported by ASA24 in contrast with DHQII, however in distinction, “imply calcium consumption per consumption day from DS didn’t differ between strategies for males,” the research famous.
Vitamin D consumption confirmed even larger discrepancies.
“On this IDATA evaluation, the variations in imply vitamin D publicity quantities (i.e., the sum of the frequency of use and consumption day quantity) from DS have been notably hanging (∼45% distinction within the imply quantities on the ASA24 in contrast with DHQII)“, the researchers wrote.
Throughout each sexes, ASA24 produced significantly greater estimates than DHQII, and “estimated imply consumption day quantities from DS amongst females was ∼771 mg/d from the ASA24, however solely 679 mg/d from the DHQII,” highlighting that the magnitude of distinction was extra pronounced for ladies.
These findings steered that variations in complement reporting could not solely rely on nutrient sort but additionally on sex-specific utilization patterns.
Key takeaways for business stakeholders
For producers and suppliers, the research underscored the significance of recognizing methodological variations in analysis that informs client traits, regulatory coverage and product positioning. Divergent estimates of complement use, notably for broadly consumed vitamins akin to vitamin D, can affect how the business understands market demand and well being outcomes tied to supplementation.
The sex-specific variations in reporting add one other layer of relevance. For corporations creating gender-targeted formulations or evaluating utilization knowledge segmented by intercourse, these methodological discrepancies might form market evaluation and product innovation.
The authors additionally pointed to broader implications for analysis design, noting that “DS approaches past a questionnaire could also be warranted for estimating absolute nutrient quantities.”
As complement use continues to play a serious function in nutrient publicity for U.S. adults, the IDATA research demonstrates that the tactic used to evaluate consumption isn’t a impartial selection. For calcium and vitamin D particularly, each the nutrient and the demographic group studied can have an effect on outcomes.
Supply: The American Journal of Medical Diet, 2025, 6, 121. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.03.020, “Strategies matter for dietary complement publicity evaluation: evaluating prevalence, product varieties, and quantities of vitamins from dietary dietary supplements within the Interactive Weight loss program and Exercise Monitoring within the American Affiliation of Retired Individuals cohort research”. Authors: Alexandra E Cowan-Pyle et al.
