Research Showcase Abstracts
Explore abstracts from CFDR’s annual research showcase at the DC Conference.
Year
2008
Language
English
Title
Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation in Canada
Introduction/Purpose
Some much-anticipated preliminary research results were presented on Thursday, May 8 at the Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research's annual Partners' Breakfast. Susan Whiting, PhD, University of Saskatchewan, spoke about her project on vitamin and mineral supplementation in Canada. The research project is a collaborative project between CFDR and Dietitians of Canada. At the time of the presentation, Dr. Whiting's research was nearing completion and some data were still being collected. She was, however, able to share some preliminary information.
Responding to recent news stories about supplementation being hazardous, Dr. Whiting explained that there are accepted recommendations for supplementation in some instances: "In Canada's Food Guide there are specific recommendations for supplement use—vitamin D and folic acid, for example. The Food Guide says 'a health care professional can help you find the multivitamin that's right for you.' I think that what you'll find from my research is that we really need to act on this sentence."
Recent stories in the media point out the hazards of too much of any one nutrient—taking too much of one type of supplement could lead to cardiovascular disease, cancer or others. Dr. Whiting's response is that those risks appear in extremely high supplement use. She points out that studies where over-supplementation caused problems used 20 - 30 times the recommended upper level of nutrients.
Dr. Whiting gave an overview of the vitamins of most concern to Canadians. Data from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey show that the main nutrient concerns for Canadians—where 10% or more Canadians have an inadequate intake—re calcium and vitamin D. Other nutrients of concern are vitamin C and vitamin A (suggesting diets low in vegetables and fruits); B6, folate, B12, iron and zinc (possibly reflective of low intakes of protein foods, specifically from meat); and magnesium (reflecting an overall poor diet.)
The research team conducted focus groups with lower income individuals to determine why they might not use supplements. Five themes regarding barriers to supplement use emerged:
Preferences: people were unhappy taking pills but didn't know that liquid supplements were available
Knowledge: people were unsure if they needed supplements
Income: cost of the supplements
Accessibility: forgetting to take them
Health: Some people reported side effects.
So what does make people decide to take a supplement? Dr. Whiting says, "The bottom line is that people have to know why the supplement is needed, and they have to know that it will work. So, there has to be a relationship built with a client, there must be education, and there must be some kind of personal contact."
At the end of her presentation, Dr. Whiting expressed the need for a reference book on vitamins and minerals that offers simple answers to the questions that Canadian consumers and health care providers have about vitamin and mineral supplementation. Hopefully, the work of Dr. Whiting and her research team will begin to answer some of those questions.
Responding to recent news stories about supplementation being hazardous, Dr. Whiting explained that there are accepted recommendations for supplementation in some instances: "In Canada's Food Guide there are specific recommendations for supplement use—vitamin D and folic acid, for example. The Food Guide says 'a health care professional can help you find the multivitamin that's right for you.' I think that what you'll find from my research is that we really need to act on this sentence."
Recent stories in the media point out the hazards of too much of any one nutrient—taking too much of one type of supplement could lead to cardiovascular disease, cancer or others. Dr. Whiting's response is that those risks appear in extremely high supplement use. She points out that studies where over-supplementation caused problems used 20 - 30 times the recommended upper level of nutrients.
Dr. Whiting gave an overview of the vitamins of most concern to Canadians. Data from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey show that the main nutrient concerns for Canadians—where 10% or more Canadians have an inadequate intake—re calcium and vitamin D. Other nutrients of concern are vitamin C and vitamin A (suggesting diets low in vegetables and fruits); B6, folate, B12, iron and zinc (possibly reflective of low intakes of protein foods, specifically from meat); and magnesium (reflecting an overall poor diet.)
The research team conducted focus groups with lower income individuals to determine why they might not use supplements. Five themes regarding barriers to supplement use emerged:
Preferences: people were unhappy taking pills but didn't know that liquid supplements were available
Knowledge: people were unsure if they needed supplements
Income: cost of the supplements
Accessibility: forgetting to take them
Health: Some people reported side effects.
So what does make people decide to take a supplement? Dr. Whiting says, "The bottom line is that people have to know why the supplement is needed, and they have to know that it will work. So, there has to be a relationship built with a client, there must be education, and there must be some kind of personal contact."
At the end of her presentation, Dr. Whiting expressed the need for a reference book on vitamins and minerals that offers simple answers to the questions that Canadian consumers and health care providers have about vitamin and mineral supplementation. Hopefully, the work of Dr. Whiting and her research team will begin to answer some of those questions.
Objective(s)/Process or Summary of Content
Identify healthy Canadian populations / sub-populations at risk of inadequate vitamin and mineral intakes; and profile nutrients at risk. This would include a systematic review of published literature and other available data.
Ascertain current attitudes/ knowledge/practices of vitamin and mineral use within the identified population.
Identify gaps in research knowledge with respect to vitamin and mineral use within the identified population(s).
Ascertain current attitudes/ knowledge/practices of vitamin and mineral use within the identified population.
Identify gaps in research knowledge with respect to vitamin and mineral use within the identified population(s).
Conclusions(s)/Recommendations
Compute nutrient intake from foods And determine nutrients with inadequacy.
Compare to nutrient intake from food and supplements: Has prevalence of inadequacy decreased?
Formulate strategy to improve intakes, taking into account Food Insecurity
Compare to nutrient intake from food and supplements: Has prevalence of inadequacy decreased?
Formulate strategy to improve intakes, taking into account Food Insecurity
