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Supplement use among US adults
Dietary supplement use among US adults is extensive and continues to grow. Data from the National Health Interview Surveys of 1987, 1992, and 2000, shows, for example, that the percentage of adults who took a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement increased from about one in six to one in four, and that daily use of individual nutrients like vitamins A, C, E, and calcium grew as well. Furthermore, the adults reported using other supplements (like herbs and specialty products such as melatonin and evening primrose oil) either occasionally or daily in 2000 - a practice that has apparently increased at least threefold since the early 1990s.
Numerous industry and independent surveys also indicate that some 127 million American adults take dietary supplements every day or at least occasionally. Many educated, health-conscious consumers have concluded that supplements can help ensure adequate intakes of nutrients, possibly prevent and treat some health problems, and perhaps even enable us to achieve a more "optimal" state of health. Supplement sale reached an astounding $18.8 billion in 2002, more than double the $8.6 billion in 1994.
Research on how various supplements might affect human physiology and function has never kept pace with consumer interest and use of these products, but the situation is improving and nutrition experts more frequently debate the potential and limitations of supplements in journals and at symposia. The bottom line is that some supplements are worth considering while many others are not. Some carry risks for certain people especially if not used appropriately.
Often the products are of poor quality and claim potential health benefits that represent sales hype rather than evidence needed to guide a purchase. In addition, many people who use these products are not very comfortable with their selections. They are not sure they are taking the right products in the right potencies and forms. If you are looking for reliable information sources that will help you to choose and use supplements sensibly to maximize any potential benefits and minimize risks consider turning to your nutritionist for advice.
Registered dietitians can help you critically assess their supplement practices, evaluate the pros and cons, and make informed choices - and steer you toward appropriate products whose efficacy has been shown in clinical trials and are of verified high quality. They can also ensure that serious adverse events or illnesses that might be caused by supplements are reported to the FDA's Med Watch program at www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-rept.html or by calling 1-800-FDA-1088. To further increase your knowledge of supplements you can seek additional sources of information, including the National Institutes of Health Offices of Dietary Supplements (http://www.dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov) and National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine (nccam.nih.gov/). Go to www.eatright.org or www.sensiblenutrition.com to find a nutritionist in your area.
Dietary supplement use among US adults is extensive and continues to grow. Data from the National Health Interview Surveys of 1987, 1992, and 2000, shows, for example, that the percentage of adults who took a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement increased from about one in six to one in four, and that daily use of individual nutrients like vitamins A, C, E, and calcium grew as well. Furthermore, the adults reported using other supplements (like herbs and specialty products such as melatonin and evening primrose oil) either occasionally or daily in 2000 - a practice that has apparently increased at least threefold since the early 1990s.
Numerous industry and independent surveys also indicate that some 127 million American adults take dietary supplements every day or at least occasionally. Many educated, health-conscious consumers have concluded that supplements can help ensure adequate intakes of nutrients, possibly prevent and treat some health problems, and perhaps even enable us to achieve a more "optimal" state of health. Supplement sale reached an astounding $18.8 billion in 2002, more than double the $8.6 billion in 1994.
Research on how various supplements might affect human physiology and function has never kept pace with consumer interest and use of these products, but the situation is improving and nutrition experts more frequently debate the potential and limitations of supplements in journals and at symposia. The bottom line is that some supplements are worth considering while many others are not. Some carry risks for certain people especially if not used appropriately.
Often the products are of poor quality and claim potential health benefits that represent sales hype rather than evidence needed to guide a purchase. In addition, many people who use these products are not very comfortable with their selections. They are not sure they are taking the right products in the right potencies and forms. If you are looking for reliable information sources that will help you to choose and use supplements sensibly to maximize any potential benefits and minimize risks consider turning to your nutritionist for advice.
Registered dietitians can help you critically assess their supplement practices, evaluate the pros and cons, and make informed choices - and steer you toward appropriate products whose efficacy has been shown in clinical trials and are of verified high quality. They can also ensure that serious adverse events or illnesses that might be caused by supplements are reported to the FDA's Med Watch program at www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-rept.html or by calling 1-800-FDA-1088. To further increase your knowledge of supplements you can seek additional sources of information, including the National Institutes of Health Offices of Dietary Supplements (http://www.dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov) and National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine (nccam.nih.gov/). Go to www.eatright.org or www.sensiblenutrition.com to find a nutritionist in your area.