Abstract
We conducted a questionnaire survey in 264 women regarding their status of dietary supplement use and health-related behaviors. Of the subjects, 38% were using supplements, 40% had used them, and 22% had never used them.
There was no difference observed between those with and without supplement use regarding skipping meals, eating with the family, and an interest in fashion trends. However, many supplement users (both the current and previous users) were attached importance to a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere at the table. Also, many had the experience of using aesthetic salons or going on a diet to reduce weight. Many supplement users considered that sufficient nutrition would be impossible with normal diets alone, and used supplements specifically “to be healthy,” “to maintain nutritional balance,” “to become beautiful,” or “to eliminate nonspecific complaints.” These findings suggested that dietary supplement use might be driven by users' active behavior.
On the other hand, those who used supplements specifically “to be healthy” or “to maintain nutritional balance” were significantly more in the current than in the previous users. Many current users had purchased fashion magazines and clothes every month. Furthermore, there was a trend whereby current users considered themselves as “health-conscious people,” while previous users saw supplement users as “trend-sensitive people.” These results suggest that supplement use is based not on the actual status of dietary habits, but on the recognition that normal diets do not adequately provide essential nutrients or that taking supplements is healthy lifestyle. Therefore, the attitude that supplement use is a positive health-promoting behavior is expected to contribute to their continuous use.
