Original Paper

Self-Reported Dietary Supplement Use Is Confirmed by Biological Markers in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa)
Anne Lise Brantsæter^a, Margaretha Haugen^a, Tor-Arne Hagve^b, Lage Aksnes^c, Salka E. Rasmussen^e, Kåre Julshamn^d, Jan Alexander^a, Helle Margrete Meltzer<sup>a

a</sup>Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Food Toxicology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health,
^bDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo,
^cDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Section for Pediatrics, University of Bergen, and
^dNational Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research, Bergen, Norway;
^eDepartment of Toxicology and Risk Assessment, Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research, Søborg, Denmark

Address of Corresponding Author

Ann Nutr Metab 2007;51:146-154 (DOI: 10.1159/000103275)

  Key Words

• Dietary supplement use
• Validation
• Biomarkers
• Pregnant women
• Food frequency questionnaire

  Abstract

Background/Aims: A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a database for dietary supplements were developed for use in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation between reported use and biomarkers in supplement and nonsupplement users and to validate self-reported intake of dietary supplements in mid pregnancy. Method: 120 women were recruited from MoBa, and 119 subjects completed the MoBa FFQ and a 4-day weighed food diary. Information on supplement use was collected by both methods. Venous blood specimens and 24-hour urine samples were obtained for measurement of dietary biomarkers. Results: Biomarker concentration/excretion and intake differed significantly between supplement and nonsupplement users for vitamin D, carotenoids, folate, the n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio and iodine (p < 0.05 for all variables). Flavonoid excretion was higher in flavonoid-supplement users (p < 0.05). Significant correlations between total dietary intake (food and supplements) and biomarker concentration/excretion were found for vitamin D (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), folate (r = 0.26, p = 0.005), the n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio (r = 0.36, p < 0.001) and iodine (r = 0.42, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The biochemical indicators examined in this study confirmed differences in self-reported micronutrient intake between supplement and nonsupplement users for vitamin D, beta-carotene, folate, n-3 fatty acids, flavonoids and iodine.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Anne Lise Brantsæter
Department of Food Toxicology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Division of Environmental Medicine, PO Box 4404 Nydalen
NO-0403 Oslo (Norway)
Tel. +47 2204 2326, Fax +47 2204 2243, E-Mail anne.lise.brantsaeter@fhi.no

  Article Information

Received: December 18, 2006
Accepted: February 16, 2007
Published online: May 29, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 9
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 4, Number of References : 42