Page 1 of 7 Pediatric MS Tool-Kit Variables The Tool-Kit vitamin D intake variables were selected and defined to address the following research question: Everything else being equal, are children with lower intake of vitamin D (in relation to supplementation*) at increased risk of MS compared with children with higher intake of vitamin D (through supplementation*)? The Tool-Kit includes six core vitamin D intake variables and five ancillary vitamin D intake variables: Core Variables: Core Variable 1: Child s Use of Dietary Supplements.. 2 Core Variable 2: Frequency that the Child Used Dietary Supplements...2 Core Variable 3: Duration of Time that the Child Used Dietary Supplements.....3 Core Variable 4: Child s Use of Dietary Supplements that Contain Vitamin D... 3 Core Variable 5: Frequency that the Child Used Dietary Supplements that Contain Vitamin D.4 Core Variable 6: Duration of Time that the Child Used Dietary Supplements that Contain Vitamin D...4 Ancillary Variables: Ancillary Variable 1: Brands of Dietary Supplements that were Commonly Used by the Child..5 Ancillary Variable 2: Use of Dietary Supplement was Recommended by a Health Care Professional...5 Ancillary Variable 3: Child s Use of Cod Liver Oil......6 Ancillary Variable 4: Frequency that the Child s Used Cod Liver Oil. 6 Ancillary Variable 5: Duration of time that the Child s Used Cod Liver Oil... 7 *While variables to represent vitamin D intake through food sources are not included in the Tool- Kit, a set of variables were also developed by the working group. If you would like to obtain a copy of these dietary intake variables please contact Sandra Magalhaes (sandra.magalhaes@mail.mcgill.ca) The first three core variables are focused on use of dietary supplements. We use the definition provided by the US Food and Drug Administration for dietary supplement: A dietary supplement is a product intended for ingestion that contains a "dietary ingredient" intended to add further nutritional value to (supplement) the diet. A "dietary ingredient" may be one, or any combination, of the following substances: a vitamin; a mineral; an herb or other botanical; an amino acid; a dietary substance for use by people to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake; a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, or extract. Dietary supplements may be found in many forms such as tablets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps, liquids, or powders. Some dietary supplements can help ensure that you get an adequate dietary intake of essential nutrients; others may help you reduce your risk of disease.
Page 2 of 7 CORE VARIABLES: Child s Use of Dietary Supplements Use of dietary supplements This variable classifies the child s use of any dietary supplements. 1: Yes Categories codes and labels 0: No Frequency that the Child Used Dietary Supplements Frequency of dietary supplement use This variable classifies the frequency that the child used dietary supplements. 3: Regularly (as recommended) 2: Occasionally Categories codes and labels 1: Rarely 0: Never
Page 3 of 7 Duration of Time that the Child Used Dietary Supplements Duration of dietary supplement use This variable classifies the duration of time that the child used dietary supplements. 4: Throughout the entire age period 3: More than half of this age period 2: Less than half of this age period Categories codes and labels 1: Rarely during this age period 0: Never during this age period Child s Use of Dietary Supplements that Contain Vitamin D Use of vitamin D supplements This variable classifies the child s use of dietary supplements that contain vitamin D. 1: Yes Categories codes and labels 0: No
Page 4 of 7 Frequency that the Child Used Dietary Supplements that Contain Vitamin D Frequency of vitamin D supplement use This variable classifies the frequency that the child used dietary supplements that contain vitamin D. 3: Regularly (as recommended) 2: Occasionally Categories codes and labels 1: Rarely 0: Never Duration of Time that the Child Used Dietary Supplements that Contain Vitamin D Duration of vitamin D supplement use This variable classifies the duration of time that the child used dietary supplements that contain vitamin D.. 4: Throughout the entire age period 3: More than half of this age period 2: Less than half of this age period Categories codes and labels 1: Rarely during this age period 0: Never during this age period
Page 5 of 7 ANCILLARY VARIABLES: Brands of Dietary Supplements that were Commonly Used by the Child Brands of dietary supplements This variable classifies which brands of dietary supplements the child most commonly used. Provide country & culture-specific examples. Open field: provide space for respondents to list different Categories codes and labels brands that were commonly used. Use of Dietary Supplement was Recommended by a Health Care Professional Recommended supplement use This variable classifies whether a health care professional recommended the child use dietary supplements, and if yes, whether the child followed the recommendation. 2: Yes, my child used the recommended dietary supplements 1: Yes, but my child did not use the recommended dietary Categories codes and labels supplements 0: No
Page 6 of 7 Child s Use of Cod Liver Oil Use of cod liver oil This variable classifies the child s use of cod liver oil. It will be important to ensure respondents focus on cod liver oil use, given the high levels of vitamin D, and not on other fish oils which are devoid of vitamin D.. 1: Yes Categories codes and labels 0: No Frequency that the Child Used Cod Liver Oil Frequency of cod liver oil use This variable classifies the frequency that the child used cod liver oil.. 3: Regularly (as recommended) 2: Occasionally Categories codes and labels 1: Rarely 0: Never
Page 7 of 7 Duration of Time that the Child Used Cod Liver Oil Duration of cod liver oil use This variable classifies the duration of time that the child used cod liver oil.. 4: Throughout the entire age period 3: More than half of this age period 2: Less than half of this age period Categories codes and labels 1: Rarely during this age period 0: Never during this age period