Exploring Consumer Attitudes About Dietary Supplement Barometer

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Exploring Consumer Attitudes About Dietary Supplement Barometer

Survey

 

http://www.supplementinfo.org/latest_news/survey_results.htm

 

An Executive Summary

 

When the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) was

enacted in 1994, consumers were anxious for greater access to

supplements as well as to meaningful information about their health

benefits. But seven years later, an important question for educators

is how far has DSHEA moved the needle? At a time when there is

widespread scientific consensus that supplements can play a valuable

role in health promotion and disease prevention, it is important to

gauge the extent to which the latest science is being incorporated

into the public's decisions about self-care.

 

Towards this end, the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance ™ -- a

broad-based coalition of industry stakeholders -- commissioned the

Dietary Supplement Barometer Survey to track American attitudes and

beliefs about vitamins, minerals, herbs and specialty supplements.

Conducted from June 28 through July 1, 2001 by Harris Interactive,

this national poll of 1,027 Americans aged 18 and older examined the

extent to which consumers use dietary supplements and their reasons

why. Moreover, the survey quizzed the knowledge level of respondents

about supplementation, finding that while Americans regularly

incorporate supplements into their health care regimens, many could

use more information about the benefits and responsible usage of

these products.

 

 

 

 

What follows is a summary of these research findings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The majority of Americans believe in supplements and take them on a

regular basis.

 

 

Today, six in ten Americans (59 percent) report taking dietary

supplements on a regular basis. Of these regular supplement users,

almost half (46 percent) take a multiple vitamin/mineral product on

a daily basis and more than a third (35 percent) take single

vitamins, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, or Vitamin B complex.

 

 

Corresponding to the dramatic growth of herbal products over the

past few years, the survey found that almost one in four Americans

(23 percent) regularly use herbs and specialty supplements.

Currently, 15 percent of adults now take such herbal supplements as

Garlic, Ginseng and St. John's Wort while almost 8 percent regularly

use such specialty supplements as SAM-E and Glucosamine/Chondroitin.

 

 

Americans take supplements because they associate these products

with improved health and well-being.

 

 

The specific reasons that consumers cite for taking supplements

is: to feel better (72 percent), to help prevent getting sick (67

percent), to help get better when they are sick (51 percent), to

live longer (50 percent), to build strength and muscle (37 percent),

and for weight management (12 percent).

 

 

At the same time, some Americans report taking supplements for a

specific health reason (36 percent) or for sports nutrition (24

percent). In addition, a third of adults (33 percent) say that they

take supplements on the advice of their doctor.

 

 

Besides these specific reasons for taking supplements, half of all

Americans (51 percent) agree that supplements provide insurance that

people will get the nutrition they need for good health.

 

 

At the same time, 53 percent of Americans agree that some dietary

supplements offer benefits that are not matched by conventional

drugs.

 

 

Equally significantly, more than half (56 percent) say that some

dietary supplements offer benefits comparable to those of drugs but

with fewer side effects.

 

Overwhelmingly, Americans are satisfied with the dietary

supplements they are taking.

 

 

In the poll, virtually all the respondents (95 percent) say they

are satisfied with the vitamins, minerals, herbs and specialty

supplements they are taking. While one in four (23 percent) say they

are extremely satisfied, half describe themselves as very satisfied

and one-fourth (25 percent) consider themselves to be somewhat

satisfied.

 

Only 2 percent say they are not very satisfied and one percent is

not satisfied at all.

 

But despite the widespread use of dietary supplements, many

consumers are not well versed about how specific supplements work in

the body, leading to misperceptions about their responsible use.

 

 

When it comes to calcium, three in five Americans (58 percent)

incorrectly say that the mineral is more important for women after

menopause than for any other group. This demonstrates a lack of

understanding of calcium's benefits throughout life and especially

during childhood to meet the demands of rapid growth.

 

 

Similarly, two in five Americans (41 percent) incorrectly say that

the main reason for taking iron supplements is to get more energy

when, in fact, iron supplementation is used to increase the

production of red blood cells. In addition, 13 percent of the survey

respondents do not know about the benefits of iron supplementation.

 

 

Further, one in five Americans (21 percent) incorrectly believe

that most supplements produce a noticeable benefit within a week and

another 12 percent are not sure about the time that is needed for

supplements to achieve their stated health benefits. Accordingly,

providing practical information about how supplements work and the

need to take them regularly will be important to manage consumer

expectations.

 

At the same time, some consumers need more information about when

and how to take dietary supplements.

 

 

Compared with 91 percent of consumers who say it is necessary to

follow recommended dosage guidelines for prescription drugs, less --

71 percent -- are as meticulous when taking supplements. For this

reason, it will be important to target future public education

efforts at closing this gap.

 

 

Compounding the problem, the survey found that most consumers are

not talking to their doctors about their supplement use. While 92

percent of adults say they consult their doctors about taking

prescription drugs, just half -- 49 percent -- report discussing

supplements with their physicians.

 

 

While most consumers say they have sufficient information about

using supplements, four in ten (37 percent) believe they would

benefit from more information about avoiding potential adverse

reactions and one-fourth of adults (28 percent) would like more

facts about the health benefits.

 

The Harris survey was conducted by phone from June 28 through July

1, 2001. Interviews were completed among 1,027 Americans using an

unrestricted Random Digit Dialing technique that significantly

reduces serial bias and ensures that both listed and unlisted

numbers are reached. Only one interview was conducted per household.

http://www.supplementinfo.org/latest_news/survey_results.htm

 

 

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