Earlier than the pandemic, about 1 in 9 U.S. adults used dietary dietary supplements for immune advantages, with utilization various by age and well being standing
Researchers on the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH) have lately carried out a examine to find out the prepandemic prevalence of dietary complement utilization for immune advantages amongst US residents. The examine findings are revealed in JAMA Community Open.
Background
Dietary dietary supplements are artificial merchandise which can be supposed to be added to the standard weight loss plan to enhance or preserve general well being. Frequent examples of dietary dietary supplements embrace nutritional vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanical merchandise, amino acids, and probiotics. These dietary supplements additionally present important vitamins required for regular physiological actions.
Based on the US Meals and Drug Administration (FDA), consuming dietary dietary supplements with no healthcare skilled’s advice may very well be dangerous. Some dietary supplements can intrude with drugs, affect diagnostic processes, or have harmful results throughout surgical procedure.
Within the US, dietary complement use is frequent, and the phrase immune or immunity is probably the most regularly used time period. The phrase is discovered on greater than 25,000 complement labels within the Dietary Complement Label Database. This implies that immune advantages are a prevalent and marketable motivation for dietary complement use.
One latest examine has proven {that a} vital proportion of dietary dietary supplements with immune well being claims have inaccurate labels and comprise extra components not talked about on the label.
These findings point out that the claims made on the labels of dietary dietary supplements may very well be deceptive for customers and that consumption of those dietary supplements with no physician’s advice may need adverse well being impacts.
Within the present examine, researchers decided the prevalence of utilizing dietary dietary supplements with perceived immune advantages, i.e., dietary supplements to stop colds or enhance the immune system.
The examine
The newest Nationwide Well being and Diet Examination Survey (NHANES) knowledge and the Dietary Complement Label Database (DSLD) have been analyzed within the examine to find out the proportions and traits of people that reported utilizing dietary dietary supplements for perceived immune advantages. Particularly, the examine included pre-pandemic NHANES knowledge from January 2017 to March 2020.
The examine additionally investigated whether or not label claims or suggestions by healthcare professionals affect the usage of these dietary dietary supplements.
Essential observations
The examine analyzed knowledge from 15,560 members within the NHANES. About 11% of them reported utilizing dietary dietary supplements for perceived immune advantages.
The utilization of those dietary supplements confirmed a constructive affiliation with a number of sociodemographic and well being traits, together with schooling, household earnings, meals safety, self-rated weight loss plan high quality, and self-rated well being standing.
The prevalence of complement utilization additionally differed by age and was larger amongst those that recognized as non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, and others.
Amongst customers of those dietary supplements, 28% reported utilizing them solely for perceived immune advantages. Such prevalence was larger amongst older individuals, financially secure individuals, and people with poor well being standing.
About 60% of members who consumed dietary dietary supplements for immune advantages reported selecting a complement primarily based on the label declare associated to immune advantages. In distinction, solely 17% reported consuming these dietary supplements primarily based on a healthcare skilled’s advice.
The prevalence of complement utilization because of healthcare skilled’s suggestions was larger amongst older individuals and people with poor well being standing.
Research significance
The examine finds that roughly 1 in 9 US residents makes use of a dietary complement for perceived well being advantages. Label claims associated to immune advantages look like probably the most vital motivation for consuming dietary dietary supplements for perceived immune advantages.
Moreover stopping colds or boosting the immune system, the second most typical motive for consuming these dietary supplements is to take care of well being or keep wholesome.
The examine finds a low prevalence of dietary complement utilization amongst members because of healthcare professionals’ suggestions. Nevertheless, such utilization will increase with rising age and deteriorating well being standing.
Researchers talked about some examine limitations within the revealed article. The examine relied on self-reported knowledge and doubtlessly misidentified merchandise, which could be related to potential recall bias and measurement error.
Nevertheless, the key power of the examine is its use of nationally consultant knowledge and detailed dietary complement assortment in NHANES.
Total, the examine offers an outline of the frequency of dietary complement utilization for perceived immune advantages amongst US residents in the course of the prepandemic interval from January 2017 to March 2020.
Given the excessive prevalence of dietary complement utilization within the US, the examine findings spotlight the necessity for additional analysis in various populations to find out their medical relevance. Though dietary dietary supplements assist enhance nutrient consumption, upstream dietary disparities should even be addressed.
