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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Vibeke K Knudsen ,
Lone B Rasmussen ,
Jóhanna Haraldsdóttir ,
Lars Ovesen ,
Inge Bülow ,
Nils Knudsen ,
Torben Jørgensen ,
Peter Laurberg  and
Hans Perrild
Vibeke K Knudsen*
Affiliation:
Institute of Food Research and Nutrition, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Søborg, Denmark Research Department of Human Nutrition, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark
Lone B Rasmussen
Affiliation:
Institute of Food Research and Nutrition, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Søborg, Denmark
Jóhanna Haraldsdóttir
Affiliation:
Research Department of Human Nutrition, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark
Lars Ovesen
Affiliation:
Institute of Food Research and Nutrition, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Søborg, Denmark
Inge Bülow
Affiliation:
Department of Endocrinology and Medicine, Aalborg Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
Nils Knudsen
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine I, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
Torben Jørgensen
Affiliation:
Centre for Preventive Medicine, Glostrup Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark (DANTHYR)
Peter Laurberg
Affiliation:
Department of Endocrinology and Medicine, Aalborg Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
Hans Perrild
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine I, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
*
*Corresponding author: Email vik@ssi.dk
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Abstract

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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, 1997–1998.

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 (OR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.12–1.66) and among users of medication (OR = 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 (OR = 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 factorsSelf-perceived health
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 5 , Issue 3 , June 2002 , pp. 463 - 468
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2002

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