Half of Americans Use Daily Vitamin and Mineral Supplements but Most Never Use Herbals, American Dietetic Association's New Survey Finds

Half of Americans Use Daily Vitamin and Mineral Supplements but Most Never Use Herbals, American Dietetic Association's New Survey Finds

FOR RELEASE JANUARY 3, 2000

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HALF OF AMERICANS USE DAILY VITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS BUT MOST NEVER USE HERBALS, AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION'S NEW SURVEY FINDS

CHICAGO — Americans are becoming increasingly receptive to non-food sources of nutrition, with half of all adults taking vitamin or mineral supplements each day, according to the American Dietetic Association's new national public opinion survey, Nutrition and You: Trends 2000.

The nationally representative biennial survey also found that although nutrient supplements are growing in popularity, relatively few people report they are using herbal supplements.

"ADA's Nutrition and You: Trends 2000 shows the public perception that vitamin supplements are essential to health has grown each year since 1993. The last two surveys in particular have shown a remarkable jump," says Tucson, Ariz., registered dietitian and ADA spokesperson Cyndi Thomson.

This year's survey showed 38 percent of Americans agreed with the statement: "Taking vitamin supplements is necessary to ensure good health." In 1997, 35 percent agreed; 28 percent agreed in 1995, and 27 percent agreed in 1993 and 1991.

"Our survey data is consistent with other studies and reinforces the need for expanded education for the public to ensure they are making optimal and appropriate choices when it comes to dietary supplements," Thomson says.

When asked how often they take vitamin or mineral supplements, respondents answered:

  • Daily: 49 percent
  • Weekly: 7 percent
  • Monthly: 3 percent
  • Occasionally: 23 percent
  • Never: 18 percent

Men and women are equally likely to use daily vitamin or mineral supplements — 47 percent of men and 50 percent of women say they take them each day.

ADA's survey found older adults use supplements in greater numbers than younger people: 65 percent of people over age 55 take vitamin or mineral supplements daily, compared with 34 percent of 25-to-34-year-olds and 47 percent of 35-to-54-year-old.

"As the population of Baby Boomers ages, one can expect this trend to continue," Thomson says. "In addition, older people, their friends and relatives are more likely to have been diagnosed with chronic diseases. They are feeling the need to optimize their health in any way possible, including taking dietary supplements.

"As health professionals knowledgeable in nutrition, registered dietitians must acknowledge this trend and keep older adults in particular informed."

Despite growing acceptance of vitamins and minerals, ADA's survey finds Americans remain ambivalent about herbal supplements. Just 28 percent agreed with the statement: "Herbal dietary supplements are safe because they are natural" — virtually unchanged from when the question was first asked in 1997.

Americans' use of herbal supplements is relatively low: eight out of 10 people say they rarely or never use products like ginseng or ginkgo biloba:

  • Daily: 12 percent
  • Weekly: 5 percent
  • Monthly: 3 percent
  • Occasionally: 19 percent
  • Never: 61 percent.

"The public may be less knowledgeable regarding herbals, compared with other nutrients, or they may not be convinced ‘natural' always means ‘better,' " Thomson says.

The 70,000-member American Dietetic Association is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Chicago-based ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. For the most timely, complete food and nutrition information, visit ADA's Web site.

Editor's note: For more information about ADA's Nutrition and You: Trends 2000 survey, for a copy of the full results or to interview an ADA spokesperson, contact ADA's Public Relations Team at 800/877-1600, ext. 4802, 4894 or 4769.

Survey results are based on telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 792 adults conducted in October 1999 by Wirthlin Worldwide. The survey has a confidence interval of plus-or-minus 3.5 percent in 95 out of 100 cases.