2023 Volume 81 Issue 5 Pages 219-227
Objective: We studied why pre-pregnant women consumed health food and supplements and determined the characteristics of those taking them to increase the probability of pregnancy so that we could strategize using appropriate health food and supplements for them.
Methods: In January 2022, 1,820 women registered with the research firm received a cross-sectional internet survey. These women were aged between 25 and 39, married, childless, attempting to get pregnant, had no previous childbirths or pregnancies, and consumed health food and supplements. In total, 900 responses were collected. The survey items included the purpose of taking health food and supplements, age, status of attempting to get pregnant, sources of information, and dietary practices.
Results: In total, 897 subjects (99.7%) were included and divided into the following two groups based on their reasons for taking health food and supplements: 397 women selected "to increase the probability of pregnancy" and "others." Women in the first group were older (p < 0.001), had been fertile longer (p < 0.001), and had obtained information from medical institutions for infertility treatment and the fertile community site (p < 0.001). They consumed more vegetables (p = 0.010) and a higher quantity of health foods and supplements (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: This survey revealed the following characteristics of women who took health food and supplements to increase the probability of pregnancy: they had a longer duration of fertility; procured information from medical institutions for infertility treatment and the fertile community site; and consumed more vegetables, health food, and supplements.
