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Dietary Supplement Use Among the Undergraduate College Population
Author(s) -
Freeman Hanna,
Kam Lynn,
Harris Stephanie
Publication year - 2015
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.29.1_supplement.lb325
Subject(s) - curriculum , medicine , population , dietary supplement , college health , odds ratio , family medicine , medical education , gerontology , environmental health , psychology , food science , biology , pedagogy
Over the past decade, the prevalence of dietary supplement use in the United States has increased among the general adult population. Purpose To determine the relationship among dietary supplement use, academic major, health information source, and motivation for use in the undergraduate college population. Methods Undergraduates at Case Western Reserve University were invited to participate in this study. A survey was administered through REDcap, a secure web‐based database, to interested participants. The survey included questions on (i) gender, (ii) intended academic major, (iii) dietary supplement use, (iv) rational for use, and (v) sources of information on dietary supplements. Results In total, 238 undergraduates completed the survey with 71% reporting dietary supplement use. Nutrition majors and pre‐health majors were as likely to use dietary supplements as other academic majors (odds ratio=1.11, 95% CI for odd ratio= 0.63‐ 1.98). Main motivations for use were to improve or maintain overall health (88%), to boost immunity (50%), and for a vitamin/mineral deficiency (32%). The top three sources used to obtain information on dietary supplements were the Internet (57%), family or friends (49%), and physicians (38%). Conclusions Dietary supplement use is high in the undergraduate student population. Most students reported using unreliable resources to obtain information on dietary supplements, and thus may be potentially making poor health choices. In addition, many health majors are planning for careers in the medical profession. Therefore, critical assessment of reliable health information should be reinforced in their academic curriculums, so that they can provide evidence‐based advice to their future patients.