CONSUMPTION, INTAKE PATTERNS, AND EXPOSURE

Despite the wide public and scientific interest in antioxidant nutrien ts and their roles in disease prevention, limited data are available t o assess population consumption, individuals' intake patterns, and tre nds in exposure. This article reviews data on levels of these nutrient s in the food supply, intake patterns from food and supplement use der ived from national surveys, and trends in exposure. The food supply an d intake data indicate that levels of vitamins E and C and the caroten oids in the diet have increased since the 1970s, but the increases are not consistent among all age groups. Dietary supplements make a major contribution to intakes of vitamins E and C. Nutrient and nonnutrient antioxidants added to the food supply do not contribute appreciably t o antioxidant exposure. Groups at high risk of poor dietary intakes of antioxidant nutrients are the poor, tobacco users, nonsupplement user s, and the elderly, especially those living alone.