Dietary supplement intake based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2015

Yoon Leena, Yang Jieun, Kweon Sanghui, Oh Kyungwon
Division of Health and Nutrition Survey, Center for Disease Prevention, CDC

This study was conducted to assess the characteristics of dietary supplement users and to evaluate nutrient intakes from dietary supplements. Using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) IV-3 (2015) raw data, a nutrient composition table for dietary supplements was developed and nutrient intakes from food and dietary supplements was estimated. The nutrients included in the composition table for dietary supplements were calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin C. The proportion of dietary supplement user during the recent one year was 41.8%, which was higher in women, and in those aged 1-5 years or 50 years and over. The most frequently consumed supplements was vitamin and mineral product in all age groups, while the second-most frequently consumed supplements were probiotic products in younger individuals and omega-3 fatty acid products in the older individuals. The intakes of calcium, iron, and vitamin C were 515.6 ㎎, 17.3 ㎎, and 115.0 ㎎, respectively, from food and 574.8 ㎎, 19.9 ㎎, and 476.3 ㎎, respectively from food and dietary supplement. Although the proportion of subjects with undernutrition was reduced by adding respective dietary supplement use, the proportion of subjects with overnutrition higher than the upper tolerable levels slightly increased.

Keywords: Dietary supplement, Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Nutrient intakes, Vitamin and mineral, Omega-3 fatty acid products, Probiotic products