Use of dietary supplements in Denmark is associated with health and former smoking

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the use of dietary supplements in a group of Danish adults and to investigate the differences between users and non-users with respect to age, gender, health and lifestyle factors. Design: Cross-sectional study in two Danish cities. Setting: The Danish Investigation on Iodine Intake and Thyroid Diseases, 1997Diseases, -1998. Subjects: Participants were 3707 women (selected age groups between 18 and 65 years) and 942 men (60-65 years). Participation rate was 50%. Supplement data were collected in a personal interview. Data on education, smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, use of medication and self-perceived health were derived from a self-administered questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression was used for the statistical analysis. Results: Participants were asked about all kinds of supplements, ranging from products containing vitamins and minerals, to fish oils and products of herbal origin. On average 59% reported use of some kind of dietary supplement. Most common were combined multivitamin/mineral products (48%) followed by single vitamin C products (10%). Twelve per cent used three or more different supplements. Supplement use was strongly associated with age and gender, being highest among elderly women (78%). Ex-smokers were more likely to use supplements than subjects who had never smoked (odds ratio (OR) 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-1.76). Supplement use was more likely among subjects who had many days of illness ðOR ¼ 1:37; 95% CI 1.12-1.66) and among users of medication ðOR ¼ 1:22; 95% CI 1.04 -1.42). Subjects who perceived their health as poor were more likely to use supplements other than just a multivitamin/mineral tablet ðOR ¼ 2:2; 95% CI 1.31-3.77). Conclusions: Use of dietary supplements was related to age, gender and smoking, but also to poor self-perceived health status and absence from work. This indicates that a group of people use supplements as a form of self-medication. Keywords Dietary supplementsLifestyle factors Self-perceived health Use of dietary supplements is common in Denmark. According to a national dietary survey in 1985, 60% of women and 50% of men (15-80 years) used vitamin/mineral supplements 1 . A survey on elderly people in 12 European countries in 1989 showed that the elderly in Denmark had the highest intake of dietary supplements, with 40 -50% of the elderly taking supplements 2 . This is despite the fact that healthy people are not recommended to take dietary supplements by any authority.Earlier studies have indicated that use of dietary supplements is associated with lifestyle factors, and that supplement users have a healthier lifestyle than non-users 3 . Users have been found to be better educated, less likely to smoke, to drink less alcohol and to exercise more than nonusers 4,5 . In Denmark little is known about how such factors are associated with the use of dietary supplements.The aim of the present study was to describe the use of dietary supplements and to investigate the differences between users and non-us...

Use of food supplements and determinants of usage in a sample Italian adult population

“…The prevalence of food supplement use in the population examined was 49 %, and significantly higher in women than in men. The prevalence of use reported in other European countries varies considerably: about 25-44 % in some studies carried out in Germany (4,11) , 28 % in Ireland (13) , 31-39 % in Sweden (8,12) , 35 % in the UK (5,6) and 59 % in Denmark (10) . However, in all cases a higher prevalence was found in women than in men, as in the present study.…”

“…Other surveys carried out in Europe (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13) have used different tools to assess food supplement use, such as mailed questionnaires and telephone or face-to-face interviews. Some studies focused specifically on the use of food supplements while others were wider-ranging surveys that also included questions regarding the use of food supplements, often within FFQ or food diaries or other methodologies.…”

“…Various surveys on the use of food supplements and/or functional foods have been carried out in European countries, in which information about the demographic, physical, lifestyle and health characteristics of food supplement users have also been collected (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13) . In most cases the variables found to be related to supplement use were age, gender, education, income and lifestyle variables such as drinking, smoking and exercising (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10) . Significant differences in food consumption were also observed, indicating a tendency for healthier food choices among users of supplements (4,6,11) .…”

Effect of lifestyle factors on plasma total homocysteine concentrations in relation to MTHFR(C677T) genotype. Inter99 (7)

“…Although we adjusted for overall dietary habits, residual confounding from dietary vitamin intake may explain some of the observed effects. Also, we had no information on the use of vitamin supplements, which is associated to factors related to lifestyle and health (Knudsen et al, 2001), and therefore may have affected the results. In summary, smoking status, dietary habits, coffee intake, and wine and beer consumption were major lifestyle determinants of tHcy in this study.…”

The Danish investigation on iodine intake and thyroid disease, DanThyr: status and perspectives

“…This was done to obtain maximum information from the investment of time and money. Participants filled out an extensive questionnaire on lifestyle, diseases, medication, and food frequency (9), including intake of supplements (10). A clinical investigation for goiter was performed, and weight, height, and blood pressure measured.…”