Prevalence and Predictors of Children's Dietary Supplement Use: the 2007 National Health Interview Survey

Overview

Journal Am J Clin Nutr

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2013 Apr 12

PMID 23576049

Citations 44

Authors

Johanna Dwyer

Richard L Nahin

Gail T Rogers

Patricia M Barnes

Paul M Jacques

Christopher T Sempos

Regan Bailey

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the characteristics of US children who are dietary supplement users.

Objective: We described the prevalence and predictors of and reasons for giving children dietary supplements.

Design: The study included children <18 y of age who participated in the Complementary and Alternative Medicine supplement of the National Health Interview Survey of 2007 whose proxies provided complete information on child dietary supplement use.

Results: A total of 37% of subjects used dietary supplements, 31% of subjects used multivitamin mineral (MVM) products exclusively, 4% of subjects used single vitamins or minerals solely or in combination with MVMs, and 2% of subjects used nonvitamin, nonmineral products either solely or in combination with other supplements. Users were more likely than nonusers to be Asian, white, or non-Hispanic; belong to families with higher parental education and income levels; reside in areas other than the South; be in good, very good, or excellent health; have private health insurance; and have a usual place at which they received conventional medical care. Children (3%) with the most disease burden and health care were more likely to use supplements than were healthier children. Supplements were given for the prevention or treatment of many illnesses and conditions. Neither the caregiver's reasons nor specific supplements used were consistently associated with particular conditions.

Conclusions: The 37% of US children who used any type of dietary supplements differed from nonusers in family socioeconomic status and many other health-related characteristics. Users were given supplements to prevent or treat many illnesses and conditions for which there is only limited evidence of their efficacy.

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