Lee Swanson Research Update

Supplement Usage Increasing

May 2005

supplements

Prevalence of dietary supplement use has increased among the U.S. population, with a dramatic increase seen in lutein use, according to researchers from Boston University School of Medicine.

In a telephone survey of more than 8,400 adults between February 1998 and December 2002, prevalence of dietary supplement use was found to be 18.8% in 2002 and 14.2% in 1998 to 1999.

Usage rates doubled for men and women over age 65 and stayed stable among younger adults. In addition, use of Ginkgo biloba and Panax ginseng declined over the study period, while use of lutein increased dramatically, due in part to its addition to multivitamin products.

The researchers concluded the rate increase in supplement usage has slowed compared to the sharp increases seen after the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) in 1994; however, addition of ingredients such as lutein and lycopene to mainstream multivitamins is increasing exposure of adults to a wider range of nutritional ingredients.

Archives of Internal Medicine 165(3):281-286, 2005.

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