Assessing vitamin status in large population surveys by measuring biomarkers and dietary intake - two case studies: folate and vitamin D

  • Christine M. Pfeiffer Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Rosemary L. Schleicher Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Clifford L. Johnson Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Paul M. Coates National Institutes of Health
Keywords: Nutrition survey, NHANES, Monitoring, Trend, Biochemical indicator, Nutrition status, Food intake, Dietary questionnaire

Abstract

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) provides the most comprehensive assessment of the health and nutrition status of the US population. Up-to-date reference intervals on biomarkers and dietary intake inform the scientific and public health policy communities on current status and trends over time. The main purpose of dietary assessment methods such as the food-frequency questionnaire, food record (or diary), and 24-hr dietary recall is to estimate intake of nutrients and, together with supplement usage information, describe total intake of various foods or nutrients. As with all self-reporting methods, these tools are challenging to use and interpret. Yet, they are needed to establish dietary reference intake recommendations and to evaluate what proportion of the population meets these recommendations. While biomarkers are generally expensive and, to some degree, invasive, there is no question as to their ability to assess nutrition status. In some cases biomarkers can also be used to assess intake or function, although rarely can one biomarker fulfill all these purposes. For example, serum folate is a good indicator of folate intake, red blood cell (RBC) folate is a good status indicator, and plasma total homocysteine is a good functional indicator of one-carbon metabolism. Using folate and vitamin D - two vitamins that are currently hotly debated in the public health arena - as two case studies, we discuss the complexities of using biomarkers and total intake information to assess nutrition status. These two examples also show how biomarkers and intake provide different information and how both are needed to evaluate and set public health policy. We also provide guidance on general requirements for using nutrition biomarkers and food and supplement intake information in longitudinal, population-based surveys.

Keywords: nutrition survey; NHANES; monitoring; trend; biochemical indicator; nutrition status; food intake; dietary questionnaire; folate; vitamin D

(Published: 2 April 2012)

Citation: Food & Nutrition Research 2012. 56 5944 - DOI: 10.3402/fnr.v56i0.5944

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Author Biographies

Christine M. Pfeiffer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Chief, Nutritional Biomarkers Branch

Division of Laboratory Sciences

National Center for Environmental Health

Rosemary L. Schleicher, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Supervisory Research Chemist, Nutritional Biomarkers Branch

Division of Laboratory Sciences

National Center for Environmental Health

Clifford L. Johnson, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Division Direction, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

National Center for Health Statistics

Paul M. Coates, National Institutes of Health
Director, Office of Dietary Supplements
Published
2012-04-02
How to Cite
Pfeiffer C. M., Schleicher R. L., Johnson C. L., & Coates P. M. (2012). Assessing vitamin status in large population surveys by measuring biomarkers and dietary intake - two case studies: folate and vitamin D. Food & Nutrition Research. https://doi.org/10.3402/fnr.v56i0.5944
Section
Vitamin Supplement

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