With Americans failing to meet recommended levels for vitamins A, D and a number of other nutrients, the Council for Responsible Nutrition is advocating for the consumption of multivitamins and other dietary supplements to make up for the shortfall.

In comments filed with the federal government, CRN advised that 2015 Dietary Guidelines recommend the general public consider taking a multivitamin/mineral (MVM) when individuals cannot meet the nutrient requirements through food. The recommendations were made to the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC), which is comprised of experts in the field of health and nutrition.

“It is important to underscore that a MVM is not meant as a replacement for a healthy diet, but as a supplement to a healthy diet that can help to achieve adequate nutrient intake," wrote Duffy MacKay, CRN’s senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, in the comments.

MacKay said the 2015 DGAC has identified nutrient deficiencies for vitamins A, E, C, D, calcium, magnesium, potassium, folate, and fiber.

“CRN recognizes that changing the dietary habits of Americans to fill documented nutrient gaps is one of the goals of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines. It follows that a prudent policy recommendation would include recommendations for MVMs and other dietary supplements as options to fill nutrient gaps," MacKay wrote. “A simple daily MVM would eliminate public health concerns related to preventable nutrient shortfalls in millions of Americans."

Early this year, CRN submitted additional comments to the DGAC regarding multivitamins, calcium and vitamin D.