Herb and vitamin supplementation use among a general ophthalmology practice population.
OBJECTIVE
To survey comprehensive ophthalmology patients about their use of vitamins and herbal supplements.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
A survey instrument was developed and distributed to 397 patients presenting to a main campus university-based comprehensive ophthalmology clinic and to an off-site comprehensive ophthalmology clinic. Information gathered included demographics, use of prescription medications, use of vitamin and herbal supplements, the reasons for using these supplements, perceived benefits of these products, where the information regarding them was gathered, and with whom patients had discussed their use.


RESULTS
Fifty-eight percent of patients reported nearly daily use of vitamins. Multivitamins were the most common vitamin and were used by 46% of the patients. Eight percent of patients used herbal products on a daily basis. Twenty-six percent learned about vitamins from their primary care physician (PCP), and just 2% from their ophthalmologists, while 35% discussed their actual use with a PCP, and 5% with their ophthalmologists. Just 2% of these patients learned of herbs from a PCP, and <1% from an ophthalmologist. Older patients used multivitamins and other vitamins most frequently, while gender and education were not predictive of vitamin or herbal use. Mean monthly spending on vitamins by users was 15.74 dollars, while herbal users spent a monthly mean of 15.35 dollars.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamins and herbs are used by a significant number of patients in a comprehensive ophthalmology setting. Given the prevalence of vitamin and herbal use, ophthalmologists should systematically inquire about their use.
West
Adrienne L
AL
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA. adrwest@umich.edu
Fetters
Michael D
MD
Hemmila
Mark R
MR
Gorenflo
Daniel W
DW
Kiyota
Ayano
A
Moroi-Fetters
Sayoko
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D028321:Plant Preparations; D014815:Vitamins