Reliability and validity of self-report of vitamin and mineral supplement use in the vitamins and lifestyle study

Am J Epidemiol. 2003 May 15;157(10):944-54. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwg039.

Abstract

In the United States, dietary supplements contribute a large proportion of micronutrient intakes. Therefore, it is important to collect accurate information on supplement use for studies of micronutrients and disease risk. This report describes the test-retest reliability and validity of a detailed, self-administered mailed questionnaire on vitamin and mineral supplement use. Participants (n = 220) completed the questionnaire at baseline and 3 months later. During an in-person interview, participants provided spot urine and blood samples, and interviewers transcribed nutrient information from their supplement bottle labels. The questionnaire had very good test-retest reliability for mean supplement intake over the past 10 years, with intraclass correlations ranging from 0.69 for beta-carotene to 0.87 for vitamin E. Pearson's correlation coefficients comparing current supplemental intakes from the questionnaire and interviews/label transcriptions were high, ranging from 0.58 for beta-carotene to 0.82 for chromium; however, for some nutrients, median intakes from the questionnaire were slightly lower than from the interviews. Beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) showed clear linear trends of increasing blood concentrations with higher self-reported supplemental intakes (Pearson's correlation coefficients adjusted for potential confounding factors and diet = 0.31, 0.29, and 0.69, respectively; all p < 0.0001). Creatinine-adjusted spot urinary calcium values were not associated with supplemental calcium intakes (Pearson's r = -0.07). This self-administered questionnaire demonstrated high reproducibility and validity for collecting detailed information on supplement use.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Diet Surveys
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Style
  • Male
  • Micronutrients*
  • Middle Aged
  • Minerals / administration & dosage*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires / standards
  • Vitamins / administration & dosage*
  • Washington

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Micronutrients
  • Minerals
  • Vitamins