title: Natural health product use in Canada.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify patterns of Natural Health Product (NHP) use in Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Food Habits of Canadians surveyed 1,543 Canadian adults using a 24-hour recall to record dietary supplements. Prevalence of use by user profile was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-six percent of women and 33% of men reported taking at least one Natural Health Product with a mean of 2.3 among users. The highest prevalence of supplement use, 57%, occurred among women aged 50-65. Supplement users were older, less likely to smoke and perceived their health as better than non-users. Among supplement users, men had higher rates of use of garlic and vitamin C while women used iron, calcium, B complex, evening primrose oil and glucosamine sulfate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplement use by Canadians, at 38% for nutrients and 15% for herbal products, was similar to the rate of uses in the U.S., although differences in the reporting of types of supplements underline aspects of consumer behaviour as well as methodological issues specific to NHPs. Investigation of the use of NHPs in the healthcare setting is important given the widespread use and the potential health care consequences associated with supplement use.
authors.affiliation: School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, 21 111 Lakeshore Road, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9.
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Troppmann
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gray-Donald
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged