National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Data Files

Core Data


1A. Interview & Exam Components (July 1997)

The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), 1988-1994, contains data for 33,994 persons ages 2 months and older who participated in the survey. The data and corresponding documentation for the survey interview and examination components are found in four separate data files:

  1. NHANES III Household Adult
  2. NHANES III Household Youth
  3. NHANES III Examination
  4. NHANES III Laboratory

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
Readme [TXT - 7 KB]
Household Adult File [DAT - 65 MB] [SAS - 127 KB] [PDF - 2.7 MB]
Household Youth File [DAT - 28 MB] [SAS - 72 KB] [PDF - 1.4 MB]
Laboratory File
Usage Notes
[DAT - 56 MB] [SAS - 41 KB] [PDF - 665 KB]
Examination File
(NOTE: Dietary recall data in this file should not be used. Revised dietary recall data is located in EXAMDR.DAT in Release 2A.)
[DAT - 190 MB] [SAS - 252 KB] [PDF - 4.3 MB]

2A. Electrocardiogram, Dietary Recall, Laboratory, Dietary Supplement and Prescription Drug (April 1998)

This data files for the Series 11, No. 2A release contain data not available for the first NHANES III release in July 1997. Both releases contain data for sample persons ages 2 months and over who participated in the survey. This data does not replace the series 11, No. 1A.

The data in this release includes:

  • Updates to Release 1A household data files electrocardiogram
  • Dietary recall
  • Laboratory
  • Vitamin/supplements/prescription drug data

Household Update Files

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
Household Adult Update File
Usage Notes
(NOTE: Use Adultmrg.sas [SAS - 1 KB] to merge the update file with the first release of the Adult file.)
[DAT - 13 MB] [SAS - 19 KB] [PDF - 712 KB]
Household Youth Update File
Usage Notes
(NOTE: Use Youthmrg.sas [SAS - 1 KB] to merge the update file with the first release of the Youth file.)
[DAT - 4 MB] [SAS - 9 KB] [PDF - 426 KB]

Laboratory

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
Second Laboratory 2A Files
Usage Notes
[DAT - 37 MB] [SAS - 21 KB] [PDF - 437 KB]
Description Data Lab Method File Documentation
Updated 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (October 2015) [XPT - 298 KB] [PDF - 282 KB] HTML Documentation

Electrocardiogram

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
Electrocardiogram [DAT - 4.7 MB] [SAS - 17 KB] [PDF - 470 KB]

Vitamins/Supplements/Prescription Drugs

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
Prescription Medication file
Usage Notes
[XPT - 1.2 MB] [PDF - 410 KB]
Drug Information [XPT - 2.84 MB] HTML Documentation
Vitamin and Mineral file
Usage Notes
[DAT - 658 KB] [SAS - 2 KB] [PDF - 223 KB]
Supplement Concentration file
Usage Notes
[DAT - 6 MB] [SAS - 45 KB] [PDF - 944 KB]
Supplement Product Information file
Usage Notes
[DAT - 1.6 MB] [SAS - 2 KB] [PDF - 161 KB]

Dietary Recall/Foods

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
Combination Foods File [DAT - 14 MB] [SAS - 4 KB] [PDF - 1 MB]
Individual Foods File [DAT - 290 MB] [SAS - 13 KB] [PDF - 7.5 MB]
Variable Ingredient File [DAT - 4 MB] [SAS - 2 KB] [PDF - 133 KB]
Total Nutrient Intake File
(NOTE: Use Exammrg.sas [SAS - 1 KB] to merge the Total Nutrient Intakes with the release 1 exam data.)
[DAT - 21 MB] [SAS - 14 KB] [PDF - 378 KB]

Foods Look Up Tables

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
IDCODE [DAT - 1.2 MB] [SAS - 1 KB] See Note
Codebook [DAT - 1.4 MB] [SAS - 1 KB] See Note
Brands [DAT - 535 KB] [SAS - 1 KB] See Note.
PREPD [DAT - 16 KB] [SAS - 1 KB] See Note
NOTE: The documentation for these files are included in the Individual Foods File documentation above.

3A. Second Exam files for Dietary Recall, Examination, Laboratory, Additional Laboratory Analytes (July 1999)

The NHANES III Second Exam Sample was a sub-study of NHANES III, conducted for research purposes. These research files are intended to provide additional data for use with special statistical methods to improve estimates from the main survey data and for methodologic investigations. Be sure to read the documentation carefully before attempting any analysis. There are seven files in this release: CFFSE, EXAMDRSE, EXAMSE, IFFSE, LABSE, LAB2SE and VIFSE.

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
README [TXT - 14 KB]
Combination Foods File - Second Exam (CFFSE) [DAT - 788 KB] [SAS - 4 KB] [PDF - 158 KB]
Total Nutrient Intake - Second Exam (EXAMDRSE) [DAT - 1.8 MB] [SAS - 14 KB] [PDF - 462 KB]
Examination - Second Exam (EXAMSE) [DAT - 1.8 MB] [SAS - 522 KB] [PDF - 5.8 MB]
Individual Food File - Second Exam (IFFSE) [DAT - 14 MB] [SAS - 13 KB] [PDF - 342 KB]
Second Lab - Second Exam (LAB2SE) [DAT - 129 KB] [SAS - 5 KB] [PDF - 224 KB]
Lab - Second Exam (LABSE) [DAT - 171 MB] [SAS - 54 KB] [PDF - 589 KB]
Variable Ingredients File - Second Exam (VIFSE): [DAT - 298 MB] [SAS - 1 KB] [PDF - 125 KB]

4A. Volatile Toxicant (VOC) (January 2000)

This dataset, Series 11, No. 4A, contains data on the priority volatile toxicant reference range study (VOC). This release does not replace other NHANES III data releases (Series 11, Nos. 1A, 2A, 3A, 5A, and 6A).

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
README [TXT - 11 KB]
Volatile Toxicant (VOC) [DAT - 433 KB] [SAS - 27 KB] [PDF - 410 KB]

5A. Supplemental Nutrition Survey (SNS) (October 2000)

This dataset, Series 11, No. 5A, contains data obtained from a supplemental nutrition survey conducted with survey participants ages 50 years and over, who had a primary exam. This release does not replace other NHANES III data releases (Series 11, Nos. 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, and 6A).

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
README [TXT - 16 KB]
Supplemental Nutrition Survey Individual Foods File 1 [DAT - 24 MB] [SAS - 37 KB] [PDF - 446 KB]
Supplemental Nutrition Survey Individual Foods File 2 [DAT - 24 MB] [SAS - 37 KB] [PDF - 444 KB]
Supplemental Nutrition Survey Total Nutrition Intakes [DAT - 5 MB] [SAS - 46 KB] [PDF - 794 KB]
Foods Look Up Tables Please see Release 2A above for the Foods Look Up Tables.

10A. Hepatitis C Virus Genotype (October 2001)

The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III),1988-94, Series 11, No. 10A (Hepatitis C Virus Genotype Data and Documentation) Data Release. This data release, contains the NHANES III Hepatitis C virusgenotype data file and documentation. This data release does not replace the previous NHANES III data releases.

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
README [TXT - 20 KB]
Hepatitis C Virus Genotype [DAT - 3 KB] [SAS - 2 KB] [PDF - 33 KB]

11A. Knee Osteoarthritis X-Ray (October 2001)

This data release, Series 11 No. 11A, contains the NHANES III knee osteoarthritis X-ray data file and documentation. This data release does not replace the previous NHANES III data releases.

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
README [TXT - 34 KB]
Knee Osteoarthritis X-Ray [DAT - 75 KB] [SAS - 2 KB] [PDF - 71 KB]

12A. Leptin Data (January 2002)

This data release, Series 11 No. 12A, contains the NHANES III Serum Leptin data file and documentation. This data release does not replace the previous NHANES III data releases.

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
README [TXT - 21 KB]
Leptin Data [DAT - 76 KB] [SAS - 1 KB] [PDF - 29 KB]

13A. Periodontal Pathogen Antibody (January 2006)

This data release, Series 11 No. 13A, contains the NHANES III Periodontal Pathogen Antibody data file and documentation.

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
README [TXT - 23 KB]
Periodontal Pathogen Antibody [XPT - 221 KB] [PDF - 117 KB]

14A. Antibody to Human Papilliomavirus-16 (HPV-16) Data (July 2002)

This data release, Series 11 No. 14A, contains the NHANES III Antibody to Human Papilliomavirus-16 (HPV-16) data file and documentation. This data release does not replace the previous NHANES III data releases.

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
README [TXT - 21 KB]
Antibody to Human Papilliomavirus-16 (HPV-16) [DAT - 68 KB] [SAS - 2 KB]

15A. Antibody to Measles Data (August 2002)

This data release, Series 11 No. 15A, contains the NHANES III Antibody to Measles data file and documentation. This data release does not replace the previous NHANES III data releases. The released data is in flat text format.

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
README [TXT - 20 KB]
Antibody to Measles Data [DAT - 160 KB] [SAS - 1 KB]

16A. Diphtheria Antibody Data (August 2002)

This data release, Series 11 No. 16A, contains the NHANES III Diphtheria Antibody data file and documentation. This data release does not replace the previous NHANES III data releases. The released data is in flat text format. A SAS program is provided to read the flat data.

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
README [TXT - 21 KB]
Diphtheria Antibody Data [DAT - 278 KB] [SAS - 2 KB]

Augmented Data and Special Studies


6A. Healthy Eating Index (HEI) (January 2000)

This dataset, Series 11, No. 6A, contains data on the number of servings from each of the food groups in the Food Guide Pyramid consumed by survey participants. It also includes data on the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), a measure of diet quality. This release does not replace other NHANES III data releases (Series 11, Nos. 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, and 5A).

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
README [TXT - 17 KB]
Healthy Eating Index [DAT - 2.5 MB] [SAS - 3 KB] [PDF - 223 KB]

7A. Multiple Imputation (June 2001, Updated August 2004)

Multiple imputation is a statistical technique in which missing data are replaced by several sets of plausible, alternative simulated values. The multiple imputations distributed on this release provide an improved method for handling missing values in many analyses of NHANES III data. These files are intended as a companion to--not a replacement for--other NHANES III public-use data sets. National estimates from the NHANES III Multiply Imputed Data Set may differ from those obtained from Series 11, No. 1A (DHHS, 1997) and No. 2A (DHHS, 1998) files. Users of the NHANES III Multiply Imputed Data Set are advised to consult the detailed analytic guidelines in the documents provided in this release.

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
README [TXT - 15 KB]
Documents for the NHANES III Multiply Imputated Data Set [PDF - 49 KB]
Multiple Imputated Data Set User Guide [PDF - 303 KB]
NH3MI.SAS [SAS - 1 KB]
Core [DAT - 22 MB] [SAS - 16 KB] [PDF - 57 KB]
IMP1 [DAT - 8.7 MB] [SAS - 7 KB] [PDF - 198 KB]
IMP2 [DAT - 8.7 MB] [SAS - 7 KB] [PDF - 198 KB]
IMP3 [DAT - 8.7 MB] [SAS - 7 KB] [PDF - 199 KB]
IMP4 [DAT - 8.7 MB] [SAS - 7 KB] [PDF - 199 KB]
IMP5 [DAT - 8.7 MB] [SAS - 7 KB] [PDF - 200 KB]

8A. Natality (January 2003)

Description: This data release, Series 11 No. 8A, includes natality data for births occurring within the United States to residents and nonresidents. Of the 8,836 children 2 months through 6 years of age from whom interview data were obtained in NHANES III, 7779 have linked birth certificates from the NCHS Division of Vital Statistics. Births occurring to US citizens outside the US are not included in this file. This data release does not replace the previous NHANES III data release.

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
README [TXT - 93 KB]
Natality [DAT - 9.9 MB] [SAS - 28 KB] [PDF - 469 KB]

9A. Spirometry (Raw Curves) (June 2001)

This data release, Series 11 No. 9A contains the NHANES III raw spirometry data file and documentation. This data release does not replace the previous NHANES III data releases.

Description Data SAS Code Documentation
README [TXT - 24 KB]
Spirometry (Raw Curves) [ZIP - 25 MB]

17A. Hip Bone Geometry Data (August 2003)

This data release, Series 11, No. 17A, contains the NHANES III Hip Bone Geometry data file and documentation. This data release does not replace pervious NHANES III data releases.

Description Data SAS Code Methods
README [TXT - 41 KB]
Hip Bone Geometry Data [DAT - 2.8 MB] [SAS - 10 KB] [PDF - 355 KB]

20A. (January 2006)

Description Data Documentation
Vitamin K: Non-Hispanic White Women and Girls [XPT - 14 KB] [PDF - 111 KB]

31A. Dietary Interview - Vitamin K and 3-Methylhistidine (February 2009)

Description Data Documentation
Total Nutrients, Primary Recall (VKDRINUT) [XPT - 693 KB] [PDF - 123 KB]
Total Nutrients, Second Recall (VKDRINUR) [XPT - 60 KB] [PDF - 125 KB]
Individual Foods, Primary Recall (VKIFF) [XPT - 13.7 MB] [PDF - 145 KB]
Individual Foods, Second Recall (VKIFFR) [XPT - 805 KB] [PDF - 282 KB]

34A. Hepatic/Gallbladder Ultrasound and Hepatic Steatosis (HGUHS) (March 2011)

Description Data Documentation
Hepatic/Gallbladder Ultrasound and Hepatic Steatosis (HGUHS) [XPT - 1.41 MB] HTML Documentation

34B. Hepatic/Gallbladder Ultrasound and Hepatic Steatosis - Second Exam (HGUHSSE) (March 2011)

Description Data Documentation
Hepatic/Gallbladder Ultrasound and Hepatic Steatosis - Second Exam (HGUHSSE) [XPT - 1.41 MB] HTML Documentation

40A. Growth Charts (November 2012)

Description Data Documentation
Growth Charts [XPT - 8.2 KB] HTML Documentation

Surplus Sera Data


18A. Pertussis (NHANES III surplus sera) (July 2005)

Description Codebook Frequencies Data Documentation
Pertussis (NHANES III surplus sera) [PDF - 23 KB] [PDF - 44 KB] [XPT - 184 KB] [PDF - 68 KB]

19A. Antibody to Cytomegalovirus IgG and IgM (January 2006)

Description Data Documentation
Antibody to Cytomegalovirus IgG and IgM [XPT - 677 KB] HTML Documentation

21A. Surplus Sera Optical Density to Cytomegalovirus (May 2006)

Description Data Documentation
Surplus Sera Optical Density to Cytomegalovirus [XPT - 238 KB] [PDF - 229 KB]

22A. Surplus Sera Antibody to Human Herpes Virus 8 (Updated March 2007)

Description Data Documentation
Surplus Sera Antibody to Human Herpes Virus 8 [XPT - 693 KB] [PDF - 239 KB]

23A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: Insulin Like Growth Factor (IGF-I and IGF Binding Protein-3) (Updated October 2006)

Description Data Documentation
Insulin Like Growth Factor (IGF-I and IGF Binding Protein-3) [XPT - 143 KB] [PDF - 200 KB]

24A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: Antibody to GAD65 (September 2006)

Description Data Documentation
Antibody to GAD65 [XPT - 34 KB] [PDF - 189 KB]

25A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: Racial/Ethnic Variation in Sex Steroid Hormone Concentrations Across Age in US Men (October 2006)

Description Data Documentation
Racial/Ethnic Variation in Sex Steroid Hormone Concentrations Across Age in US Men [XPT - 65 KB] [PDF - 542 KB]

26A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: Antibody to Toxocara Larva Migrans (January 2007)

Description Data Documentation
Antibody to Toxocara Larva Migrans [XPT - 336 KB] [PDF - 406 KB]

27A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: Cystatin C (May 2007)

Description Data Documentation
Cystatin C [XPT - 363 KB] [PDF - 378 KB]

28A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: Antibody to MUMPs (Updated June 2009)

Description Data Documentation
Antibody to MUMPs [XPT - 60 KB] [PDF - 191 KB]

29A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: Antibody to Hepatitis E Virus IgG (August 2008)

Description Data Documentation
Antibody to Hepatitis E Virus IgG [XPT - 439 KB] [PDF - 206 KB]

30A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: Antibody to Periodontal Pathogens (August 2008)

Description Data Documentation
Antibody to Periodontal Pathogens [XPT - 1.3 MB] [PDF - 470 KB]

32A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: Dialkylphosphates (May 2009)

Description Data Documentation
Dialkylphosphates [XPT - 13 KB] [PDF - 282 KB]

33A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: Inhibin B, Leuteinizing Hormone and Testosterone (Updated December 2009)

Description Data Documentation
Inhibin B, Leuteinizing Hormone and Testosterone [XPT - 87 KB] [PDF - 574 KB]

35A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: Racial/Ethnic Variation in Sex Steroid Hormone Concentrations Across Age In US Men (October 2011)

Description Data Documentation
Racial/Ethnic Variation in Sex Steroid Hormone Concentrations Across Age In US Men [XPT - 6 KB] HTML Documentation

36A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: β-trace Protein β2 Microglobulin (April 2012)

Description Data Documentation
β-trace Protein β2 Microglobulin [XPT - 6 KB] HTML Documentation

37A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: Cystatin C, β-trace Protein β2 Microglobulin (April 2012)

Description Data Documentation
Cystatin C, β-trace Protein β2 Microglobulin [XPT - 6 KB] HTML Documentation

38A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (August 2012)

Description Data Documentation
Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance [XPT - 6 KB] HTML Documentation

39A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: Partial Hepatitis C Virus RNA Sequences Isolated from Individuals (August 2012)

Description Data Documentation
Partial Hepatitis C Virus RNA Sequences Isolated from Individuals [CSV - 6 KB]
[CSV - 6 KB]
[CSV - 6 KB]
[CSV - 6 KB]
HTML Documentation

41A. Surplus Sera Laboratory Component: IgG and IgM Antibody to Hepatitis E Virus (May 2013)

Description Data Documentation
IgG and IgM Antibody to Hepatitis E Virus [XPT - 8.2 KB] HTML Documentation

42A. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (January 2015)

Description Data Documentation
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance [XPT - 254 KB] HTML Documentation

43A. Food Specific IgE(s) (Surplus Sera) (May 2015)

Description Data Documentation
Food Specific IgE(s) (Surplus Sera) [XPT - 4 KB] HTML Documentation

44A. IgG Antibody to Hepatitis E Virus and anti-HEV Western Blot (September 2016)

Description Data Documentation
IgG Antibody to Hepatitis E Virus and anti-HEV Western Blot [XPT - 58 KB] HTML Documentation

45A. Autoantibodies- Immunofluorescence data (August 2019)

Description Data Documentation
Autoantibodies - Immunofluorescence Analyses [XPT - 1.83 MB] HTML Documentation

46A. Autoantibodies - Anti-DFS70 Autoantibody Analyses (Surplus) (July 2022)

Description Data Documentation
Autoantibodies - Anti-DFS70 Autoantibody Analyses (Surplus) [XPT - 7.42 KB] HTML Documentation