title: Behaviors underlying the use of nonvitamin nonmineral dietary supplements in a healthy elderly cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to examine factors underlying the decision to use nonvitamin, nonmineral (NVNM) dietary supplements in a healthy elderly cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were administered to probe for perceived health status, health insurance coverage, income level, monthly expenditure for supplements, duration of supplement use, information source, disclosure of supplement taking to physician, reasons for NVNM supplements use and perceived benefits, use of supplements to replace or complement a medication, and usual purchasing place.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1999- 2001, 418 elderly males (34.7%) and females (65.3%) ages 60-96 years were surveyed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nonvitamin nonmineral supplement "consumers" and "non-consumers" were not significantly different for sex, age, ethnicity, perceived health status, income level, and health insurance access. The average consumer took three NVNM supplements and spent significantly more money on supplements than non-consumers (p < 0.001). Over 44% of consumer's responses indicated that they had been using NVNM supplements for over 2 years. Literature/media were predominately the source of information with mail order being the most frequent method of purchase. Over 39% of consumer's responses showed that supplement use was revealed to a physician. Arthritis, memory improvement, and general health and well-being were the main reasons to use NVNM supplements. Less joint pain/improved mobility was the main perceived improvement from taking NVNM supplements. Overall, over 53% of consumer's responses showed that no change was noticed from taking NVNM supplements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the most commonly reported responses by those noticing change from NVNM supplement use were improved mobility and less joint pain, over half of the responses indicated that they did not feel any benefit from taking supplements, yet continued to purchase and take them. Communication of NVNM supplement use to their physician was low. More studies are needed to investigate what influences the decision to continue supplement use regardless of the lack of efficacy, considerable cost, and potential risks.
authors.affiliation: Research Nutrition, General Clinical Research Center, MSC10 5540, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-5191, USA. rwold@salud.unm.edu
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Wold
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wayne
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires