A Longitudinal Study of Dietary Supplement Use in Community-living Middle Age and Elderly Japanese
There are few studies about dietary supplement use in Japan. The purpose of this study is to clarify the dietary supplement use in the community-living Japanese population.
METHODS:
Dietary supplements were grouped into 10 major categories. Some categories were further classified into sub-categories. To collect information on dietary supplement use in the previous year we conducted an original self-administered dietary supplement frequency questionnaire. The subjects were participated in the National Institute for Longevity Sciences Longitudinal Study of Aging (NILS-LSA) from baseline (2000-2002, males; n=1,152, females; n=1,107) to seventh (2010-2012; males; n=1,178, females; n=1,152). The prevalence of dietary supplement uses and trend of them according to waves were examined by Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test controlled by age.
RESULTS:
At the baseline, 59% of males and 67% of females consumed any dietary supplements. Females were more likely to take them than males in all waves (p<0.01). In major category, the prevalence of Vitamin intakes was 10% in males and 14% in females, liquid type dietary supplements (Drink type) was 23% in both sexes, and other type of supplement including efficient ingredients for health except nutrients (Others) was 9% in males and 14% in females at the baseline. The users of Drink type (both sexes, p<0.01) and Vitamin (females, p=0.02) tended to decrease with wave. In Vitamin sub-categories, Vitamin E and C users in females decreased with wave (p<0.01). However, Others tended to increase with wave in both sexes (p<0.01), especially, anthocyanin, green leaves juice and dietary supplements for Joints such as chitosan and chondroitin-sulfate and supplements for beauty such as CoQ10 and collagen increased with wave in both sexes (p<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS:
More than a half of the community-living population used dietary supplements in Japan. The purpose of dietary supplement intakes shifted from compensating for lack of nutrients to taking efficient ingredients for health.