The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of use and types of dietary supplements (DS) used by U.S. adults (≥19 years) by sociodemographic characteristics: family income-to-poverty ratio (PIR), food security status, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation using NHANES 2011–2014 data (n = 11,024). DS use was ascertained via a home inventory and a retrospective 30-day questionnaire. Demographic and socioeconomic differences related to DS use were evaluated using a univariate t statistic. Half of U.S. adults (52%) took at least one DS during a 30-day period; multivitamin-mineral (MVM) products were the most commonly used (31%). DS and MVM use was significantly higher among those with a household income of ≥ 350% of the poverty level, those who were food secure, and SNAP income-ineligible nonparticipants across all sex, age, and race/ethnic groups. Among women, prevalence of use significantly differed between SNAP participants (39%) and SNAP income-eligible nonparticipants (54%). Older adults (71+ years) remained the highest consumers of DS, specifically among the highest income group (82%), while younger adults (19–30 years), predominantly in the lowest income group (28%), were the lowest consumers. Among U.S. adults, DS use and the types of products consumed varied with income, food security, and SNAP participation.

Epidemiological studies have suggested that flavonoids exhibit preventive effects on degenerative diseases. However, lack of sufficient data on flavonoid intake has limited evaluating the proposed effects in populations. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the total and individual flavonoid intakes among Korean adults and determine the major dietary sources of these flavonoids. We constructed a flavonoid database of common Korean foods, based on the food list reported in the 24-h recall of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2007–2012, using data from the Korea Functional Food Composition Table, US Department of Agriculture flavonoid database, Phenol-Explorer database and other analytical studies. This database, which covers 49 % of food items and 76 % of food intake, was linked with the 24-h recall data of 33 581 subjects aged ≥19 years in the KNHANES 2007–2012. The mean daily intake of total flavonoids in Korean adults was 318·0 mg/d, from proanthocyanidins (22·3 %), flavonols (20·3 %), isoflavones (18·1 %), flavan-3-ols (16·2 %), anthocyanidins (11·6 %), flavanones (11·3 %) and flavones (0·3 %). The major contributing food groups to the flavonoid intake were fruits (54·4 %), vegetables (20·5 %), legumes and legume products (16·2 %) and beverages and alcohols (3·1 %), and the major contributing food items were apples (21·9 %), mandarins (12·5 %), tofu (11·5 %), onions (9·6 %) and grapes (9·0 %). In the regression analysis, the consumption of legumes and legume products, vegetables and fruits predicted total flavonoid intake the most. The findings of this study could facilitate further investigation on the health benefits of flavonoids and provide the basic information for establishing recommended flavonoid intakes for Koreans.

Food insecurity is associated with poorer nutrient intakes from food sources and lower dietary supplement use. However, its association with total usual nutrient intakes, inclusive of dietary supplements, and biomarkers of nutritional status among US children remains unknown. The objective was to assess total usual nutrient intakes, Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) scores, and nutritional biomarkers by food security status, sex, and age among US children. Cross-sectional data from 9147 children aged 1–18 y from the 2011–2016 NHANES were analyzed. Usual energy and total nutrient intakes and HEI-2015 scores were estimated using the National Cancer Institute method from 24-h dietary recalls. Overall diet quality was poor, and intakes of sodium, added sugars, and saturated fat were higher than recommended limits, regardless of food security status. Food-insecure girls and boys were at higher risk of inadequate intakes for vitamin D and magnesium, and girls also had higher risk for inadequate calcium intakes compared with their food-secure counterparts, when total intakes were examined. Choline intakes of food-insecure children were less likely to meet the adequate intake than those of their food-secure peers. No differences by food security status were noted for folate, vitamin C, iron, zinc, potassium, and sodium intakes. Food-insecure adolescent girls aged 14–18 y were at higher risk of micronutrient inadequacies than any other subgroup, with 92.8% (SE: 3.6%) at risk of inadequate intakes for vitamin D. No differences in biomarkers for vitamin D, folate, iron, and zinc were observed by food security status. The prevalence of iron deficiency was 12.7% in food-secure and 12.0% in food-insecure adolescent girls. Food insecurity was associated with compromised intake of some micronutrients, especially among adolescent girls. These results highlight a need for targeted interventions to improve children's overall diet quality, including the reduction of specific nutrient inadequacies, especially among food-insecure children. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03400436.

Potential safety concerns relative to impaired cognitive function may exist when high folic acid exposures are combined with low vitamin B-12 status. We aimed to examine the relation of the coexistence of high folate and low vitamin B-12 status with cognitive function, utilizing various definitions of “high” folate status. Cross-sectional data from older adults (≥60 y; n = 2420) from the 2011–2014 NHANES were analyzed. High folate status was defined as unmetabolized serum folic acid (UMFA) > 1 nmol/L or serum total folate > 74.1 nmol/L, and low vitamin B-12 status as methylmalonic acid > 271 nmol/L or serum vitamin B-12 < 150 pmol/L. Logistic regression models estimated ORs of scoring low on 1 of 4 cognitive tests: the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Delayed Recall (CERAD-DR) and Word Learning tests, and the Animal Fluency test (AF). A significant interaction was observed relative to scoring low on the DSST (<34; UMFA; P-interaction = 0.0071) and AF (serum folate; P-interaction = 0.0078) for low vitamin B-12 and high folate status. Among those with low vitamin B-12, high UMFA or high serum total folate was associated with higher risk of scoring low on the DSST (OR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.05, 4.47) and the AF (OR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.08, 3.45). Among those with “normal” vitamin B-12, higher UMFA or serum total folate was protective on the CERAD-DR. In noninteraction models, when high folate and normal vitamin B-12 status was the reference group, low vitamin B-12 combined with high UMFA was associated with greater risk based on the DSST (<34, OR: 2.87; 95% CI: 1.85, 4.45; <40, OR: 2.22; 95% CI: 1.31, 3.75) and AF (OR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.30, 2.97); but low vitamin B-12 and lower UMFA (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.47) was also significantly associated for DSST < 40 risk. Low vitamin B-12 was associated with cognitive impairment both independently and in an interactive manner with high folate for certain cognitive performance tests among older adults.

This study examined total usual micronutrient intakes from foods, beverages, and dietary supplements (DS) compared to the Dietary Reference Intakes among U.S. adults (≥19 years) by sex and food security status using NHANES 2011–2014 data (n = 9954). DS data were collected via an in-home interview; the NCI method was used to estimate distributions of total usual intakes from two 24 h recalls for food and beverages, after which DS were added. Food security status was categorized using the USDA Household Food Security Survey Module. Adults living in food insecure households had a higher prevalence of risk of inadequacy among both men and women for magnesium, potassium, vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and K; similar findings were apparent for phosphorous, selenium, and zinc in men alone. Meanwhile, no differences in the prevalence of risk for inadequacy were observed for calcium, iron (examined in men only), choline, or folate by food security status. Some DS users, especially food secure adults, had total usual intakes that exceeded the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for folic acid, vitamin D, calcium, and iron. In conclusion, while DS can be helpful in meeting nutrient requirements for adults for some micronutrients, potential excess may also be of concern for certain micronutrients among supplement users. In general, food insecure adults have higher risk for micronutrient inadequacy than food secure adults.

Children’s food-security status has been described largely based on either the classification of food security in the household or among household children, but few studies have investigated the relationship between food security among household children and overall dietary quality. Our goal was to examine children’s dietary quality and micronutrient adequacy by food-security classification for the household and among household children. Data from 5540 children (2–17 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014 were analyzed. Food-security status was assessed using the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module and categorized into high, marginal, low, and very low food security for the households and among household children. Dietary quality and micronutrient adequacy were characterized by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2015 and Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR; based on total nutrient intakes from diet and dietary supplements), respectively. The HEI 2015 scores did not substantially vary by either food-security classification, but the MAR was greater in high compared to very low food security in households and among household children; a linear relationship was found only among household children. In general, very good agreement was observed between the classifications, but the strength of agreement differed by children’s age, race/Hispanic origin, and family income. In conclusion, micronutrient adequacy, but not dietary quality, significantly differed by food-security status. While the agreement between food security in the household and among household children is very good, classification of food security among household children may be more sensitive to detecting differences in exposure to nutrients.