Food Supplements - Exploring Our Reasons For Taking Them
- Project start date: 1 September 2019
- Project status: Completed
- Project type: Nutrition
- Discipline: Nutrition surveillance
- Author/s: Dr Kirsty Pourshahidi, University of Ulster
- Collaborator/s: Mr Glenn Hall, Cognisense Ltd.
Research objective
- To conduct a literature review of existing available data on food supplements use and associated factors from within the island of Ireland and internationally.
- To gain a better understanding of the personal, social and psychological factors that influence food supplements use in an adult population, employing the Theory of Planned Behaviour to define and measure these factors.
- To explore behaviours, beliefs, attitudes, knowledge and awareness of risk or safety in relation to food supplements among adults on the island of Ireland, identifying factors that motivate and predict food supplements use behaviour and intentions.
Outputs
Research report
- Title: Food supplements: Exploring our reasons for taking them
- Publication date: 8 November 2022
- Summary: Most people get enough vitamins and minerals from their diet, yet 30% of people on the island of Ireland report taking food supplements. This reseach examined why people are taking these supplements to help inform guidance to the public.
- Findings:
Literature review
- Food supplements are important in correcting nutritional deficiencies, maintaining nutrient adequate intake and supporting physiological functions. In the UK and Ireland, current public health guidelines recommend food-based nutrition and only support the use of food supplements in specific circumstances. Despite this, there is widespread use of food supplements, with 20-50% of adults report regularly taking food supplements.
- The regulation of food supplements is challenging, and there are concerns over the potential risk of excess micronutrient intakes, particularly among vulnerable groups. There are also concerns that supplements may be seen as a substitute for eating a healthy diet.
- From relevant studies, key characteristics of supplement users were evident, with higher reported use among females, older adults and those from a more advantaged socioeconomic background. The reasons for taking food supplements are often multifactorial with “general health improvement” being a common motivation. It is evident that food supplements are generally perceived as “low risk” by the people who take them.
- The audit of a sample of 13 newsletters revealed 170 adverse event cases associated with food supplements, with two-thirds of these likely caused by the product. Adverse events affected a wide age range of adults with approx. 10% reported in children often <5yrs. Severity varied and included gastrointestinal, allergic, hepatic and cardiovascular-related symptoms.
Qualitative focus groups and quantitative survey
- 48% the adults on the IOI currently take food supplements, with higher use among females aged from 35-49, those from Ireland, from advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, working full-time, married, living with a diagnosed physical health condition, vegetarian/vegan.
- Among people taking a supplement, the average number of supplements reported was 2.6. Vitamin D (60%), multi-vitamins or minerals (41%), and Vitamin C (34%) were the most used supplements.
- 81% reported daily use of food supplements, with 87% of current users buying the supplements themselves, most likely from a chemist or pharmacy.
- 47% of all parents reported currently giving food supplements to their children.
- Parents who were food supplements users themselves were 2.4 times more likely to give their children food supplements than parents who were not food supplement users.
- Most adults had positive attitudes towards food supplements, influenced by healthcare professionals, family and other users.
- Common supplement forms were tablets/sachets, and shakes/drinks.
- All food supplements were commonly referred to as “vitamins” or “multivitamins”
- Knowledge about supplements was marginally higher among users than non-users, but the overall scores were low.
- While two thirds of adults thought carefully about supplement use, 37% viewed it as risk free.
- Determinants of supplement use included being female, those with higher socioeconomic status and having a more positive attitude towards supplements.
- Perceived health status was not associated with food supplements use.
- Recommendations:
- More consumer education is needed to align with the recommended supplements, raise awareness of risks and ensure appropriate use.
- Education for healthcare professionals to help support public health messages at the point of care.
- Update guidance at common points-of-sale for food supplements.
- The relevant public health bodies should develop an online resource with accurate information on supplements.
- Implement public health campaigns to promote clear messaging to consumers about food supplements use and support consumers in making lower-cost choices when required.
- Long term monitoring of supplement use to assess changes in behaviour and to inform future public health policy.
- Create an accessible system for identifying, reporting and monitoring of suspected adverse events to food supplements to improve knowledge of food supplements and consumer safety.
You can download the report below
