Changes in vitamin and mineral supplement use after breast cancer diagnosis in the Pathways Study: a prospective cohort study

Table 2 Change in vitamin/mineral supplement daily dose from diagnosis to 6 months ^a

		Initiators^b		Discontinuers^c		Continuous users
	IOM reference intakes^d	Change in dose from diagnosis to 6 months	P-value^e	Change in dose from diagnosis to 6 months	P-value^f	Dose at diagnosis	Dose at 6 months	Change from diagnosis^g
Multivitamins (pills)	n/a	1.45	0.53	−1.32	0.34	1.39	1.23	−0.17
Vitamin C (mg)	75 mg	615.95	0.01	−557.97	<.0001	780.10	740.57	−26.07
Calcium (mg)	1200 mg	859.31	<.0001	−743.69	0.56	704.55	815.69	119.70
Vitamin E (IU)	15 mcg^h	280.89	<.0001	−391.09	0.66	400.97	357.97	−41.32
Vitamin D (IU)	600 mcg^g	1064.94	<.0001	−2505.33	0.26	1800.20	2306.79	609.09
Iron (mg)	8 mg	184.13	0.56	−80.08	0.38	129.99	79.66	−73.85
Vitamin B12 (mcg)	2.4 mcg	245.80	<.0001	−612.35	0.18	794.29	625.99	−126.84
Folic acid (folate) (mcg)	400 mcg	416.38	<.0001	−475.81	0.05	616.75	552.73	−42.47
Magnesium (mg)	320 mg	289.02	0.91	−315.55	0.62	293.46	319.25	57.69
Zinc (mg)	8 mg	12.79	<.0001	−17.56	0.004	42.14	38.08	4.46
Vitamin B6 (mg)	1.3-1.5 mg	63.77	0.07	−110.61	0.56	88.96	91.34	−16.14
Vitamin A (IU)	700 mcg^i,h	5966.11	0.02	−11113.52	0.93	10736.26	7283.16	−3425.60
Chromium (mg)	0.02 mg	165.46	0.03	−176.16	0.09	280.96	284.16	13.65
Niacin (B3) (mg)	14 mg	167.02	<.0001	−368.21	0.02	850.00	915.86	94.52
Beta carotene (IU)		12552.93	0.10	−12750.00	0.15	19722.22	13437.50	−4166.67
Selenium (mcg)	55 mg	101.96	0.11	−111.01	0.21	144.25	137.41	−1.28
Thiamin (B1) (mg)	1.1 mg	57.81	0.07	−28.35	0.17	164.06	179.76	57.14

^aOrdered by prevalence of use prior to diagnosis.
^bInitiators defined as those taking supplements at six-month follow-up but not at baseline visit.
^cDiscontinuers defined as those taking supplements at baseline but not at six-month follow-up visit.
^dBased on Institute of Medicine Recommended Dietary Allowances and Adequate Intakes for females age 51 years and older.
^eT-test comparing 6 months dose to baseline dose of Continuous Users.
^fT-test comparing diagnosis dose to diagnosis dose of Continuous Users.
^gThe amount of change may not reflect the apparent difference between diagnosis and 6 months since both measures are required in order to be included.
^hIOM recommended dietary allowances for vitamins A, D, and E are expressed in micrograms, while the study values are international units (I.U.).
ⁱThe IOM recommended dietary allowance of 700 mcg vitamin A is expressed in retinol activity equivalents (RAE), where 1 RAE = 1 mcg retinol or 12 mcg beta-carotene.

ISSN: 1471-2407