The objective of our study was to investigate the current status of the use of green leaf juice (GLJ ; made from kale,young barley leaf etc) among consumers and patients visiting drugstores,with regard to reasons for using GLJ,overall perception of safety and efficacy of GLJ,and the need for information on such dietary supplements.Between February and March 2006,a total of 563 consumers and patients visiting 68 drugstores owned by Tsuruha Inc.,in Hokkaido,Tohoku,and Kanto districts completed the questionnaire.The results showed that GLJ use was substantially higher among elderly people (65 years old and above) and people under long-term treatment with antihypertensives,antiallergics or antidiabetics.Though 33.2% of GLJ users thought it was effective,55% were uncertain about its effectiveness.Adverse events had been experienced by 2.4% of GLJ users.Other findings were that 55.5% of the respondents were taking GLJ daily and 27% had not read the precautions in the package insert.
The present investigation showed that the major users of GLJ were elderly persons (of 65 years and above) who were taking medications.It is thus important for medical staff to routinely ask such patients if they are using any dietary supplements in order to collect evidence for their potential benefits or harm they could do,and to provide information on them in consideration of differences in literacy levels.
