Abstract
The use of dietary supplements is prevalent among many groups worldwide. However, few studies have examined their use among government employees. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the association among sociodemographic characteristics, body weight status, and energy intake with dietary supplement use among government employees in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Simple random sampling was used to select a sample of 460 government employees from six ministries in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The data used in this study were collected through anthropometric measurements (height, weight, % body fat, waist and hip circumferences), a self-administered questionnaire (sociodemographic characteristics and dietary supplements use), and an interviewer-administered questionnaire (24-hour dietary recall; fruit and vegetable intake). The results indicated that the prevalence of dietary supplement use was 55.4%, with vitamin C (38.4%) being the most popular type of dietary supplement. Health issues (80.8%) were the most common reason for usage, internet (59.2%) was the main source of information, and pharmacies (71.8%) were the most indicated places to purchase dietary supplements. A multivariate analysis showed that participants who were female, married, had better monthly income, lived within a smaller household size, had a normal body mass index, classified as having unhealthily high body fat percentage, did not skip breakfast, and consumed at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day were significantly more likely to use dietary supplements. In conclusion, health-conscious groups were more prone to consume dietary supplements, and due to the high prevalence of dietary supplement use, dissemination of accurate scientific information regarding dietary supplements is highly recommended among government employees.
Highlights
This prevalence was higher compared to findings from MANS, which reported that the percentage of the general adult population in Malaysia that consumes vitamin and mineral supplements and food supplements is 28.1% and 34.0%, respectively [4]
The prevalence of dietary supplement use in the current study was higher than the finding from NHMS, which stated that 13.8% Malaysian adults use dietary supplements [10]
The rationale of this finding might be that government employees have an increased likelihood of being able to afford the cost of dietary supplements, as the government sector provides better financial compensation for its employees through its fixed salaries and allowances
Summary
The dietary supplement market is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries and continuously offers numerous products to the community. States Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 defines dietary supplements as products that are taken by the mouth and are intended to supplement the diet by increasing the total energy and nutrient intake [1]. Dietary supplements contain one or more dietary ingredients, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs and botanicals, and these products can be found in many forms, such as tablets, capsules, pills, liquids, and powders [1]. The prevalence of dietary supplement use has substantially risen over the past few years in both developed and developing countries. As seen in data compiled by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the prevalence of dietary supplement use among US adults was 23% for 1971–1974, 35% for 1976–1980, 42% for
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
