The nutrient data in AUSNUT 2011-13 has undergone an extensive data validation process.
Some of the routine validation activities undertaken by FSANZ include checking:
- all dietary supplements have a value for all nutrients to be reported
- the dietary supplement contained the nutrients identified in the supplement name. (e.g. a calcium supplement contains calcium, a multivitamin contains more than one vitamin)
- the dietary supplement contains the amount of nutrient identified in a supplement name (e.g. a supplement called 'Vitamin C 500' contains approximately 500 mg vitamin C per dosage unit)
- the sum of all nutrients is less than the mass of a dosage unit.
FSANZ focussed more detailed checks on the most frequently consumed supplements.
The dietary supplement data was also provided the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for review before publication.
Uncertainty and limitations of the data
The main limitation with the dietary supplements data is that none of the data generated for dietary supplements are derived from direct analysis of available products. Therefore the nutrient profiles reported rely on the accuracy of the formulation information provided to the TGA by manufacturers and do not take account of any overages that may have been used.
References
National Health and Medical Research Council (2006) Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including Recommended Dietary Intakes.
Therapeutic Goods Adminstration Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.