Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Communication
  • Published:

Sociodemographic and health behaviour factors among dietary supplement and natural remedy users

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 55, pages 1104–1110 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To investigate which subgroups of the Swedish adult population use dietary supplements and natural remedies, taking into account sociodemographic and health behaviour factors.

Design: A cross-sectional survey conducted in 1996/1997 by Statistics Sweden was used for the analyses. In face-to-face interviews participants reported consumption of dietary supplements and natural remedies during the previous 2 weeks.

Setting: Sweden

Subjects: A nationally representative sample of 11 422 adults (5596 men, 5826 women) aged 16–84 y. The response rate was 78%.

Results: Overall, 33% of Swedish women and 22% of Swedish men reported use of dietary supplements; prevalence of natural remedy users was 14 and 7%, respectively. The best predictors for use of dietary supplements and natural remedies were age, sex and subjective health. Women and older individuals were more likely to be dietary supplement and/or natural remedy users. Obese men and women were less likely to use dietary supplements than underweight ones. Among men subjective health was significantly related to use of these preparations. Men who reported excellent health ate less than men reporting poor health. This association was weaker among women. Exercise was another important factor. Both men and women (except female dietary supplement users) who reported moderate or heavy exercise were significantly more frequent users of these preparations than those who reported practically no exercise.

Conclusion: Use of dietary supplements and natural remedies is associated with several sociodemographic and health behaviour factors.

Sponsorship: Karolinska Institutet Research Fund.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 1104–1110

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Astin JA (1998) Why patients use alternative medicine: results of a national study J.A.M.A. 279 1548–1553

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balluz LS, Kieszak SM, Philen RM & Mulinare J (2000) Vitamin and mineral supplement use in the United States. Results from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Arch. Fam. Med. 9 258–262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bender MM, Levy AS, Schucker RE & Yetley EA (1992) Trends in prevalence and magnitude of vitamin and mineral supplement usage and correlation with health status J. Am. Diet Assoc. 92 1096–1101

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blendon R, DesRoches C, Benson J, Brodie M & Altman D (2001) Americans' views on the use and regulation of dietary supplements Arch. Intern. Med. 161 805–810

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Block G, Cox C, Madans J, Schreiber GB, Licitra L & Melia N (1988) Vitamin supplement use, by demographic characteristics Am. J. Epidemiol. 127 297–309

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boon H, Stewart M, Kennard MA, Gray R, Sawka C, Brown JB, McWilliam C, Gavin A, Baron RA, Aaron D & Haines-Kamka T (2000) Use of complementary/alternative medicine by breast cancer survivors in Ontario: prevalence and perceptions J. Clin. Oncol. 18 2515–2521

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burstein HJ, Gelber S, Guadagnoli E & Weeks JC (1999) Use of alternative medicine by women with early-stage breast cancer New Engl. J. Med. 340 1733–1739

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dorant E, van den Brandt PA, Hamstra AM, Feenstra MH, Goldbohm RA, Hermus RJ & Sturmans F (1993) The use of vitamins, minerals and other dietary supplements in The Netherlands Int. J. Vit. Nutr. Res. 63 4–10

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Druss BG & Rosenheck RA (1999) Association between use of unconventional therapies and conventional medical services J.A.M.A. 282 651–656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, Appel S, Wilkey S, Van Rompay M & Kessler RC (1998) Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990–1997: results of a follow-up national survey J.A.M.A. 280 1569–1575

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eliason BC, Huebner J & Marchand L (1999) What physicians can learn from consumers of dietary supplements J. Fam. Pract. 48 459–463

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ernst E (2000) Prevalence of use of complementary/alternative medicine: a systematic review Bull. WHO. 78 252–257

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ernst E & White A (2000) The BBC survey of complementary medicine use in the UK Complement Ther. Med. 8 32–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher P & Ward A (1994) Complementary medicine in Europe Br. Med. J. 309 107–111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldbeck-Wood S, Dorozynski A, Lie L, Yamauchi M, Zinn C, Josefson D & Ingram M (1996) Complementary medicine is booming worldwide Br. Med. J. 313 131–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris P & Rees R (2000) The prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use among the general population: a systematic review of the literature Complement Ther. Med. 8 88–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hosmer DW & Lemeshow S (eds) (1989) Applied logistic regression In: Hosmer Statistics. New York: John Wiley

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim I, Williamson DF, Byers T & Koplan JP (1993) Vitamin and mineral supplement use and mortality in a US cohort Am. J. Public Health 83 546–550

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kirk SF, Cade JE, Barett JH & Conner M (1999) Diet and lifestyle characteristics associated with dietary supplement use in women Public Health Nutr. 2 69–73

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klaukka T, Riska E & Kimmel UM (1985) Use of vitamin supplements in Finland Eur. J Clin. Pharmac. 29 35–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koplan JP, Annest JL, Layde PM & Rubin GL (1986) Nutrient intake and supplementation in the United States (NHANES II) Am. J. Public Health 76 287–289

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee MM, Lin SS, Wrensch MR, Adler SR & Eisenberg D (2000) Alternative therapies used by women with breast cancer in four ethnic populations J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 92 42–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MacLennan AH, Wilson DH & Taylor AW (1996) Prevalence and cost of alternative medicine in Australia Lancet 347 569–573

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Medeiros DM, Bock MA, Ortiz M, Raab C, Read M, Schutz HG, Sheehan ET & Williams DK (1989) Vitamin and mineral supplementation practices of adults in seven western states J. Am. Diet Assoc. 89 383–386

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nesheim MC (1999) What is the research base for the use of dietaty supplements? Public Health Nutr. 2 35–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neuhouser ML, Patterson RE & Levy L (1999) Motivations for using vitamin and mineral supplements J. Am. Diet Assoc. 99 851–854

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson RE, White E, Kristal AR, Neuhouser ML & Potter JD (1997) Vitamin supplements and cancer risk: the epidemiologic evidence Cancer Causes Control 8 786–802

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Radimer KL, Subar AF & Thompson FE (2000) Nonvitamin, nonmineral dietary supplements: issues and findings from NHANES III J. Am. Diet Assoc. 100 447–454

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen N & Morgan J (1990) The use of alternative treatments in the Danish adult population Complementary Med. Res. 4 16–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson MA, Sanders T, Palmer JL, Greisinger A & Singletary SE (2000) Complementary/alternative medicine use in a comprehensive cancer center and the implications for oncology J. Clin. Oncol. 18 2505–2514

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Slesinski MJ, Subar AF & Kahle LL (1995) Trends in use of vitamin and mineral supplements in the United States: the 1987 and 1992 National Health Interview Surveys J. Am. Diet Assoc. 95 921–923

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Slesinski MJ, Subar AF & Kahle LL (1996) Dietary intake of fat, fiber and other nutrients is related to the use of vitamin and mineral supplements in the United States: the 1992 National Health Interview Survey J. Nutr. 126 3001–3008

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Statistics Sweden (1996) The Swedish Survey of Living Conditions—Design and Methods, Appendix 16. Örebro: Statistics Sweden

    Google Scholar 

  • Subar AF & Block G (1990) Use of vitamin and mineral supplements: demographics and amounts of nutrients consumed. The 1987 Health Interview Survey Am. J. Epidemiol. 132 1091–1101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vaskilampi T, Meriläinen P & Sinkkonen S (1993) The use of alternative treatments in the Finnish adult population. In: Lewith G, Aldridge D (eds). Clinical Research Methodology for Complementary Therapies, ed. G Lewith & D Aldridge 204–229 London: Hodder & Stoughton

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. A Wolk: Guarantor: Wolk.

  2. M Messerer, S-E Johansson and A Wolk: Contributors: MM, AW and S-EJ designed the study. MM and S-EJ carried out the data analyses. MM wrote the manuscript and AW and S-E J critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    M Messerer & A Wolk

  2. Statistics Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden

    S-E Johansson

Authors
  1. M Messerer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S-E Johansson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A Wolk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M Messerer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Messerer, M., Johansson, SE. & Wolk, A. Sociodemographic and health behaviour factors among dietary supplement and natural remedy users. Eur J Clin Nutr 55, 1104–1110 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601272

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601272

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links