Awareness Of Supplements Research Articles

The use of dietary supplements in preconception phase of women in Lublin province in the era before the COVID pandemic

Introduction and purpose
 Nutrition in the preconception phase as well as during pregnancy represents one of the most important factors that affect the development and well-being of the fetus and newborn. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary supplements during preconception among Polish women from the Lublin Province.
 
 Material and methods
 The survey was conducted in a population of 260 women, who were randomly included in the study. The women were asked to anonymously complete a questionnaire regarding the possible intake of supplementation. The questions included in the questionnaire concerned the frequency and type of dietary supplements taken.
 
 Results
 A slight majority of women (53%) did not take dietary supplements during the contraceptive period. The most commonly used was folic acid (45%), the least frequently - vitamin A (2%). The frequency of using dietary supplements by women in the pre-conception period does not correlate with the level of their place of residence, financial situation or age, however, it is related to the level of education - people with higher education used supplementation more often before pregnancy. Women's awareness of supplementation during pregnancy increases significantly. Women take many more supplements during pregnancy than they took before pregnancy. The average supplementation before pregnancy was 0.48, and during pregnancy it increases significantly and amounts to 0.83.
 
 Conclusions
 Women's awareness of supplementation during pregnancy increases significantly. Women take many more supplements during pregnancy than they took before pregnancy.The awareness of women should be increased and supplementation of recommended nutrients should be improved in order to prevent the effects of supplements deficiency.

Evaluation of educational interventions on eye health for dietetic and pharmacy professions: a pre-post study

BackgroundWe piloted an educational intervention that aimed to enhance awareness about nutrition-age-related macular degeneration (AMD) links among practising and student dietitians then expanded the scope of this intervention to include general eye health, which was delivered to pharmacy students.MethodsA pilot intervention was conducted in 2019 at the Dietitians Australia Conference (Gold Coast, Australia) where practising and student dietitians underwent a 2-hour small group educational workshop on nutrition and AMD links. Pre-post questionnaires were administered to participants, with voluntary completion of both questionnaires an indicator of consent to participate in the intervention. The primary intervention outcome was a change in AMD-related nutrition knowledge pre-post intervention. A larger intervention was then conducted at the University of Sydney (Sydney, Australia) where pharmacy students underwent a 4-hour educational module to improve general eye health knowledge, as well as student perceptions and attitudes towards a pharmacists’ role in low vision care. Similarly, pre-post questionnaires were administered, with voluntary completion of both questionnaires an indicator of consent to participate in the intervention. The primary intervention outcomes were changes in total knowledge, total perception and total attitude scores pre-post intervention.Results(1) Among 10 accredited and 5 student dietitians, there was significant overall knowledge improvement (mean pre-post score: 7.07 ± 1.94 vs. 10.8 ± 1.01, p = 0.001) specifically around appropriate dietary advice, food sources of key AMD-related nutrients, and awareness of supplements. (2) Among 179 second-year pharmacy students enrolled in the ‘Pharmacy Practice’ Unit of Study (Bachelor of Pharmacy, University of Sydney), total eye health knowledge (6.25 ± 1.93 vs. 6.64 ± 2.0; p = 0.011) significantly improved, along with total perception scores (41.54 ± 5.26 vs. 42.45 ± 4.95; p = 0.004). Total attitude scores were not significantly different.ConclusionsThe pilot intervention improved relevant nutrition-AMD knowledge among practising/student dietitians. The modified intervention for pharmacy students also significantly improved general eye health knowledge as well as students’ perception of a pharmacists’ role in low vision care.

Vitamin A supplementation awareness among mothers of children under five years old at Mbagathi District Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.

Vitamin A deficiency is one of the leading micro-nutrient deficiencies of public health importance in Kenya. Provision of vitamin A supplements every six months is an inexpensive, safe, quick and effective way to improve vitamin A status and save children's lives. To determine vitamin A supplementation awareness, attitudes and beliefs among mothers of children under five years old attending Mbagathi District Hospital. Cross sectional study. Mbagathi District Hospital (MDH) Maternal and Child Health Clinic (MCH) and Paediatric Out Patient Department (POPD). Mothers attending MDH MCH and POPD. Both quantitative and qualitative data using questionnaires, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. A systematic random sampling where every alternate client was recruited and questionnaires administered to make 158 respondents. Key informants were purposively chosen for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Ninety four percent of the respondents reported having heard about vitamin A, major source of information being the health worker (82%). While 58% of the respondents were aware that the recommended schedule for VAS for children is every 6 months, almost half (49%) of respondents were aware vitamin A was given to mothers. Most of the respondents were positive and supportive of VAS. There were no negative beliefs or attitudes mentioned. However, majority (66%) had never discussed about Vitamin A with other mothers/people. Only 18% of the respondents believed VAD was associated with eye problems/blindness. Most mothers did not believe there was a specific consequence of VAD. Majority (64%) of the respondents did not believe there were any possible hindrances to taking their children for VAS. Mothers were positive and supportive of VAS, major source of information being the health worker but there was lackof information and awareness among both health workers and mothers.

薬学部学生を対象としたサプリメントの栄養学的な役割の認識に関する実態調査

Various nutritional supplements have become available in recent years. However, health problems resulting from the misuse of these supplements are on the rise, and have been attributed to a lack of knowledge among consumers. In addition, a survey of university students revealed that approximately 20% of students erroneously considered nutritionally balanced supplements as substitutes for meals. Given this background, we conducted a questionnaire survey of first- and fourth-year students at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Kobe Gakuin University with the objective of elucidating factors such as the awareness of supplements among pharmacy students and whether these students had a superior understanding of supplements compared to the general student population. Awareness of supplements among students was determined in terms of the degrees of emphasis on meals and supplements in nutritional intake. The proportion of students who essentially believed that "nutritionally balanced supplements can be used as substitutes for meals" did not significantly differ between pharmacy students and the general student population. In addition, only 30% of students had an accurate understanding of supplements. Following graduation, pharmacy students may become pharmacists and thus be responsible for providing directions regarding usage of supplements. These findings suggest that in order to nurture professional pharmacists, it is necessary to first implement practical nutrition education and consumer education to promote healthier dietary habits among the students themselves.