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Prevalence and Characterization of Natural Health Product Use in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
Author(s) -
Gobert C P,
Duncan A M
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a579-a
Subject(s) - medicine , type 2 diabetes , diabetes mellitus , incidence (geometry) , disease , vitamin d and neurology , nottingham health profile , gerontology , family medicine , alternative medicine , endocrinology , pathology , physics , optics
Natural Health Products (NHPs) have received attention for their role in human health and disease. Type 2 diabetes is of interest due to its increasing incidence and potential role of NHPs in its management. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and predictors of NHP use, and to characterize beliefs and attitudes about NHPs, in adults with type 2 diabetes. Adults with type 2 diabetes (n=150) completed an interviewer‐administered questionnaire exploring the prevalence of NHP use, attitudes and beliefs about NHPs, as well as general health, medical and demographic data. NHP users were older (p=0.003), more educated (p=0.03) and tended to have a lower body weight (p=0.06) than non‐users. Although NHP users had been diagnosed with diabetes for longer relative to non‐users (p=0.02), there were no significant differences in plasma glucose, HbA1c or other diabetes management characteristics. The prevalence of NHP use was 77.3% with the three most common NHPs including multi‐vitamins/minerals (48.3%), calcium (36.2%) and vitamin C (31.9%). The number one rationale for NHP use was general health (60.3%) with diabetes ranked as fourth (12.1%). The majority of NHP users (81.9%) had their NHPs recommended to them, most often from a physician (39.7%). The most common sources of NHP information were magazines/books (19.8%), word of mouth (19.8%) and physicians (17%), although the majority of NHP users (63.8%) reported they did not need more information. The high prevalence of NHP use (77.3%) observed justifies the value of these data to improving the overall health care of adults with type 2 diabetes. Supported by the Natural Health Products Directorate of Health Canada.