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VITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENT USE
Vitamin and mineral supplement use is of particular interest
for the health of women. There are specific circumstances
during a woman's life cycle which are associated with special
vitamin and mineral supplement needs (e.g. the period prior
to conception, during pregnancy, and when at risk for certain
health conditions such as osteoporosis).
In 2000, 56.9
percent of U.S. women took at least one type of a vitamin
or mineral supplement during the year. Non-Hispanic
White women reported the highest proportion of supplement
use (61.7 percent). In general, the use of vitamin and
mineral supplements increased with age. In 2000, 64.6
percent of
women aged 65-84 reported using any vitamin or mineral
supplement compared to 43.8 percent of women aged 18-24,
although use
declined among women aged 85 and older.
Calcium is necessary
for building and maintaining strong and healthy bones.
The National Academy of Sciences recommends
that adults aged 19-50 years get 1,000 mg of calcium
per day and adults aged 51 and older get 1,200 mg per
day.1
Women may take a calcium supplement if they do not
think they are
meeting this recommendation by eating calcium rich
foods such as milk, cheese, and yogurt. In 2000, 25.5 percent
of women took a calcium supplement. Women aged 65-84
reported the highest percent of calcium supplement
use
(37.5 percent).
 [d]
 [d]
1Standing
Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference
Intakes, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine.
Dietary Reference Intakes For Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium,
Vitamin D, and Fluoride. Table S1. http://www.nap.edu/html/dri_calcium/tables.html [Back
to Text]
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