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Koç O, Tosyalı M, Gökçe Ş, Koç F. Use of Dietary Supplements and Influencing Factors in Children. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:734. [PMID: 38928980 PMCID: PMC11203674 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In recent years, the use of dietary supplements has increased in all age groups. Parents may also use these supplements for their children for different reasons. This study aims to determine the use of dietary supplements by children, the factors affecting this use, and the attitudes of parents about these products. METHODS A total of 1038 children aged 2-18 years without any chronic disease who presented to the pediatric outpatient clinics of Ege University Children's Hospital were included in this study. Parents (n = 1000) who agreed to participate in the study were interviewed face-to-face, and a comprehensive questionnaire including questions about children's use of dietary supplements, sociodemographic characteristics, and parents' attitudes towards dietary supplements was administered. Analyses were performed with SPSS 25.0. RESULTS The mean age of the children included in our study was 8.6 ± 4.8 years, and 51% (n = 510) were male. It was found that 32.5% of the children used nutritional supplements, and vitamin-mineral preparations (23.2%) were the most frequently used. Omega-3 (19.3%) and immune support products (9.4%) were the second and third most frequently used supplements, respectively. A significant relationship was found between the use of dietary supplements and the child's age, body weight, body mass index, parents' educational level, being health worker, and economic status (p < 0.05). It was found that most of the families thought that vitamin-mineral and omega-3 products were beneficial for growth and development and that they received information from doctors most frequently before taking these products. However, it was found that families followed the media as the second most frequent source of information for these products. CONCLUSIONS Approximately one-third of the children in our study use dietary supplements. It is very important to raise awareness among families about the use of these products when necessary and with the recommendation of a physician. To prevent families from using dietary supplements that are not necessary for their children, especially due to misinformation in the media, pediatricians should provide correct information to parents about these products at every clinic visit. A concerted effort is needed from policy makers, media organizations, and health care providers to guide the safe use of DS. The results obtained from this study will shed light on future randomized controlled prospective studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Merve Tosyalı
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Children’s Hospital, 35100 Izmir, Turkey; (O.K.); (Ş.G.); (F.K.)
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Christensen C, Matthiessen J, Fagt S, Biltoft-Jensen A. Dietary supplements increase the risk of excessive micronutrient intakes in Danish children. Eur J Nutr 2023; 62:2449-2462. [PMID: 37127694 PMCID: PMC10421806 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-023-03153-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Dietary supplement use is common in Northern Europe. Many dietary supplements contain 100% of nutrient reference values (NRV) of micronutrients. This study investigates the contribution of dietary supplements to micronutrient intake, the prevalence of excess intake of micronutrients, and parental characteristics of dietary supplement use in Danish children. METHODS Data on 499 4-10-year-old children from the Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity 2011-2013 were analysed using non-parametric statistics to compare micronutrient intake from the diet and dietary supplements to the reference intake (RI), and to the tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for users and non-users of dietary supplements. Furthermore, characteristics of the parents of users and non-users of dietary supplements were examined by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Sixty-four percent of the children were dietary supplement users. Multivitamin-mineral supplements were the most frequently used type of supplement (60%). Children of never-smokers were more likely to use supplements than children of smokers. Users had significantly higher total intakes of 15 micronutrients compared to non-users. Intakes of vitamin A, zinc, and iodine from the diet alone exceeded ULs in 12-30% of the children. Use of dietary supplements gave rise to 21-73% of children in exceedance of the aforementioned three ULs as well as the UL for iron (6-45%). CONCLUSION Dietary supplement use was common among 4-10-year-old Danish children and resulted in a considerable proportion of users exceeding the ULs for vitamin A, zinc, iodine, and iron. The long-term health consequences of exceeding these ULs for children are unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Christensen
- Research Group for Nutrition, Sustainability and Health Promotion, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Jeppe Matthiessen
- Research Group for Nutrition, Sustainability and Health Promotion, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sisse Fagt
- Research Group for Nutrition, Sustainability and Health Promotion, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anja Biltoft-Jensen
- Research Group for Nutrition, Sustainability and Health Promotion, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Mohsen H, Ibrahim C, Bookari K, Saadeh D, Al-Jawaldeh A, Sacre Y, Hanna-Wakim L, Al-Jaafari M, Atwi M, AlAsmar S, Najem J, Hoteit M. Prevalence of Essential Nutrient Supplement Use and Assessment of the Knowledge and Attitudes of Lebanese Mothers towards Dietary Supplement Practices in Maternal, Infancy and Preschool Ages: Findings of a National Representative Cross-Sectional Study. Foods 2022; 11:foods11193005. [PMID: 36230080 PMCID: PMC9561973 DOI: 10.3390/foods11193005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Mothers are understandably concerned about protecting the well-being of their offspring in every way possible, including providing oral dietary supplements (DSs). Up to now, there has been limited data on maternal knowledge and attitudes toward concomitant maternal–child DSs practices in Lebanon. This study evaluated the maternal knowledge and attitudes toward DSs and documented the DS-related practices in mothers and their under-5 children with their correlates. This cross-sectional study involved a representative stratified cluster random sample of 511 mother–child dyads (mothers: mean age ± SD = 30.25 ± 4.98 years; children: mean age ± SD = 18.7 ± 15.5 months, girls: 55.0%). A self-administered questionnaire was used to meet study aims. Most mothers lack awareness and hold unfavorable attitudes regarding DS use. Among all mothers, 47% were DS users, with the majority using vitamin D (82%). Almost 64% of mothers provide DSs for their children, with a predominant use of multivitamin drops (61.0%). “To keep the child healthy” was the reported reason by 60.0% of mothers to provide DSs for their children. Physicians were the primary information source about DSs for most mothers (64.0%). The usage of DSs among mothers was influenced by their pregnancy status, child’s age, number of children per household, and their awareness and attitudes towards DSs. DS usage among children was correlated with maternal DS use and their mothers’ attitudes towards DSs. DS usage among Lebanese mother–child dyads is common. Mothers should be the focus of education sessions regarding DS use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hala Mohsen
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
| | - Carla Ibrahim
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
- Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology (DSST), Lebanese University, Hadath P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
- PHENOL Research Group (Public HEalth Nutrition Program Lebanon), Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
- Lebanese University Nutrition Surveillance Center (LUNSC), Lebanese Food Drugs and Chemical Administrations, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh P.O. Box 446, Lebanon
| | - Khlood Bookari
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia
- National Nutrition Committee, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Danielle Saadeh
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
- INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut P.O. Box 1103, Lebanon
| | - Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh
- World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo 11371, Egypt
| | - Yonna Sacre
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh P.O. Box 446, Lebanon
| | - Lara Hanna-Wakim
- Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, School of Engineering, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh P.O. Box 446, Lebanon
| | - Marwa Al-Jaafari
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
- Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology (DSST), Lebanese University, Hadath P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
| | - Marwa Atwi
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
| | - Sabine AlAsmar
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
| | - Jessica Najem
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
| | - Maha Hoteit
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
- PHENOL Research Group (Public HEalth Nutrition Program Lebanon), Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
- Lebanese University Nutrition Surveillance Center (LUNSC), Lebanese Food Drugs and Chemical Administrations, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
- University Medical Center, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 6573, Lebanon
- Correspondence:
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