The AUSNUT 2011-13 dietary supplement database contains 35 nutrient values for 2,163 dietary supplements consumed during the 2011-12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS) and the 2012-13 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NATSINPAS) components of the 2011-13 Australian Health Survey (AHS). The nutrient profiles of the dietary supplements reflect those available during this time period.
For the purpose of the AHS, dietary supplements refer to products defined as Complementary Medicines under the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990 that are not intended for inhalation or use on the skin. They include products containing ingredients that are nutrients, such as multivitamin or fish oil products.
Nutrients reported
AUSNUT 2011-13 contains data for 35 nutrients or related components for dietary supplements.
The 35 nutrients are:
- selected proximate constituents including protein, total fat and dietary fibre
- fatty acid components including total saturated, total monounsaturated, total polyunsaturated, total trans and total long chain omega 3 fatty acid groups, and linoleic and alpha linolenic acids
- vitamins including vitamin A (as retinol equivalents), preformed vitamin A (retinol), pro vitamin A (beta-carotene equivalents) and beta-carotene, thiamin, riboflavin, preformed niacin, niacin equivalents, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid and dietary folate equivalents
- minerals including calcium, iodine, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium and zinc
- other components including caffeine and cholesterol.
Energy (with and without the contribution of dietary fibre), moisture (water), available carbohydrate (with and without sugar alcohols), total sugar, starch, alcohol, ash, eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic fatty acids, alpha-tocopherol, natural folates, total folates and tryptophan were not reported for dietary supplements. These nutrients were not included because:
- the levels present in supplements do not contribute, or contribute very little, to overall enery or nutrient intakes (e.g. sugar and starch)
- they are unlikely to be present in dietary supplements in quantifiable amounts (e.g. natural folates)
- they were not needed in the calculation of nutrients to be reported from the AHS (e.g. tryptophan).
For more information about the nutrients reported for dietary supplements in AUSNUT 2011-13 refer:
Sources of nutrient data
The majority of nutrient profiles for dietary supplements were developed using data provided by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Information provided by TGA included AUST-L number, product name, dosage form (e.g. tablet or liquid), dosage amount, and formulation with the name and amount of each active ingredient provided on a per dose basis.
Where nutrient data could not be obtained from the TGA, they were derived by conducting internet searches, or visiting local supermarkets and pharmacies to view products.