Trends in Multivitamin Use Among Women of Reproductive Age: United States, 2006-2016

• Published in: Journal of women's health (Larchmont, N.Y. 2002) Vol. 28; no. 1; p. 37
• Main Authors: Wong, Eugene C, Rose, Charles E, Flores, Alina L, Yeung, Lorraine F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; African Americans - statistics & numerical data; California; Dietary Supplements - statistics & numerical data; Ethnicity; Female; Folic Acid - administration & dosage; Health Surveys; Hispanic or Latino - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Neural Tube Defects - prevention & control; Preconception Care; Pregnancy; Pregnant Women; Prenatal Care; Prevalence; Vitamins - administration & dosage; Whites - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult; California; neural tube defects; folic acid; trend; multivitamin
• ISSN: 1931-843X
• DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2018.7075

Women of reproductive age can consume 0.4 milligrams of folic acid daily to reduce the risk of a neural tube defect (NTD)-affected pregnancy. Multivitamins (MVs) are one source of folic acid. Using HealthStyles survey data (n = 9268), we assessed change in prevalence of MV use during 2006-2016 among women by age (18-24, 25-34, and 35-44 years), race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic [NH] white, NH black, Hispanic), and pregnancy status (trying to get pregnant, not pregnant nor trying to get pregnant, and pregnant) using log-binomial regression. Daily MV consumption decreased overall from 32.7% to 23.6% during 2006-2016 for women aged 18-44 years (p for trend <0.001). Age-specific decreases were seen in women aged 25-34 years (2006: 34.1%; 2016: 23.7%; p < 0.001) and 35-44 years (2006: 37.3%; 2016: 27.1%; p < 0.001). Decreases in daily MV intake were found among NH whites (2006: 35.4%; 2016: 24.9%; p < 0.001) and Hispanics (2006: 30.6%; 2016: 22.1%; p < 0.001), but remained unchanged among NH blacks (2006: 23.7%; 2016: 21.8%; p = 0.87). Daily MV intake remained unchanged for women trying to get pregnant (2006: 40.2%; 2012: 38.3%; p = 0.19), decreased for women not pregnant nor trying to get pregnant (2006: 31.3%; 2012: 21.3%; p < 0.001), and fluctuated for pregnant women (2006: 53.8%; 2012: 71.0%; p = 0.21). Prevalence of no MV consumption increased significantly across all age and race/ethnicity groups. Overall MV intake decreased for the past decade and varied by age, race/ethnicity, and pregnancy status. Innovative messaging and targeted interventions for increasing folic acid intake are needed to reduce NTDs.