Dietary Supplement Ingredient Database (DSID) and the Application of Analytically Based Estimates of Ingredient Amount to Intake Calculations.

OBJECTIVE: We describe the purpose of the Dietary Supplement Ingredient Database (DSID), the statistical methodology underlying online calculators of analytically verified supplement content estimates, and the application and significance of DSID label adjustments in nutritional epidemiology. BACKGROUND AND HISTORY: During dietary supplement (DS) manufacturing, many ingredients are added at higher than declared label amounts, but overages are not standardized among manufacturers. As a result, researchers may underestimate nutrient intakes from DSs. The DSID provides statistical tools on the basis of the results of chemical analysis to convert label claims into analytically predicted ingredient amounts. These adjustments to labels are linked to DS products reported in NHANES. RATIONALE: Tables summarizing the numbers of NHANES DS products with ingredient overages and below label content show the importance of DSID adjustments to labels for accurate intake calculations. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: We show the differences between analytically based estimates and labeled content for vitamin D, calcium, iodine, caffeine, and omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids and their potential impact on the accuracy of intake assessments in large surveys. Analytical overages >20% of label levels are predicted for several nutrients in 50-99% of multivitamin-mineral products (MVMs) reported in NHANES: for iodine and selenium in adult MVMs, for iodine and vitamins D and E in children's MVMs, and for iodine, chromium, and potassium in nonprescription prenatal MVMs. Predicted overages of 10-20% for calcium can be applied to most MVMs and overages >10% for folic acid in the vast majority of adult and children's MVMs. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: DSID studies are currently evaluating ingredient levels in prescription prenatal MVMs and levels of constituents in botanical DSs. CONCLUSIONS: We estimate that the majority of MVM products reported in NHANES have significant overages for several ingredients. It is important to account for nonlabeled additional nutrient exposure from DSs to better evaluate nutritional status in the United States.

Reproductive history and postmenopausal rheumatoid arthritis among women 60 years or older: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis, a condition of unknown etiology, has been associated with considerable costs to society. The purpose of this study is to determine whether selected reproductive history characteristics are associated with postmenopausal rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis. METHODS: Secondary analyses were performed using cross-sectional data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Of 1,892 eligible participants, 182 fulfilled the criteria for postmenopausal rheumatoid arthritis, based on self-report and the 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria. Logistic regression models were constructed, and odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% CIs were calculated for selected reproductive history characteristics as predictors of postmenopausal rheumatoid arthritis, after adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic models suggested that age at menopause was the only reproductive characteristic that was significantly associated with the outcome of interest (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93-0.99). Compared with women experiencing menopause at 50 years of age or later, those who experienced menopause before 40 years of age (OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.41-4.53) had increased odds of postmenopausal rheumatoid arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: Women who experience menopause before 40 years of age seem to be at increased risk for postmenopausal rheumatoid arthritis. Conversely, age at menarche and pregnancy history may not predict rheumatoid arthritis after menopause. Further research is needed to confirm and elucidate these epidemiological findings.