Sally Ezzat*, MD, DrPH
Alexandria University, Students’ Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt
*Email Address for Correspondence: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Background: Several studies have reported the importance of multivitamins use and nutritional supplements in improving the health and wellbeing of adults. Objective: The study aimed at investigating the factors predicting the consistency of using vitamin supplements, frequency of usage and adherence to the recommended dose and the types of vitamin supplements used during the three months preceding the study. Subjects and Methods: The study included 217 males and 183 females; they were recruited on voluntary basis. Data were collected on age, sex, educational level, type of vitamin supplements used, reasons and frequency of usage, adherence to recommended dose and source of advice to use supplement. The body weight and height were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Results: The results show that 54.8% of the subjects used vitamin supplements. The rate of use was higher among females, subjects with low BMI and old age. Multivitamin and mineral supplements were the most common followed by multivitamins and vitamin D. Vitamin A supplement was least used. The data show that only 35.1% of the sample used the supplements 5 times or more weekly, the remainder used it irregularly. The age, sex, source of prescription and the BMI affected the rate of using the supplements. Only 54.5% were taking the supplement according to physicians’ advice and 39.7% adhered fully to the recommended dose. Conclusion: The results of the study points out the importance of regulating vitamin supplements usage. The use of the supplements should be according to medical advice.
Keywords: Age, Body Mass Index, Healthy Adults, Multivitamins
Citation: Ezzat S. Factors affecting the multivitamins use among healthy adults in Alexandria, Egypt. Canad J Clin Nutr 2016; 4 (2): 16-32.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14206/canad.j.clin.nutr.2016.02.03
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