Sociodemographic, health and lifestyle characteristics reported by discrete groups of adult dietary supplement users in Alberta, Canada: findings from The Tomorrow Project.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the extent to which differences in sociodemographic, dietary and lifestyle characteristics exist between users of different types of dietary supplements and supplement non-users.


METHODS
We analysed cross-sectional data obtained from self-administered questionnaires completed at baseline by participants in The Tomorrow Project; a prospective cohort study in Alberta, Canada. Participants who used at least one type of dietary supplement at least weekly in the year prior to questionnaire completion were defined as supplement users, while the remainder were classified as non-users. Seven discrete user categories were created: multivitamins (+/- minerals) only, specific nutritional supplements only, herbal/other supplements only, and all possible combinations. Differences in sociodemographic, dietary and lifestyle characteristics between different groups of supplement users and non-users were analysed using Rao-Scott chi2 tests and multinomial logistic regression.


METHODS
Subjects were 5,067 men and 7,439 women, aged 35-69 years, recruited by random digit dialling throughout Alberta.


RESULTS
Supplement use was extensive in this study population (69.8 %). Users of herbal/other supplements only, and women who used multivitamins only, tended to report dietary and lifestyle characteristics that were not significantly different from non-users. In contrast, those who reported using a combination of multivitamins, specific nutritional and herbal/other supplements were more likely than non-users to report behaviours and characteristics consistent with current health guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Dichotomizing participants as supplement users or non-users is likely to mask further differences in sociodemographic, dietary and lifestyle characteristics among users of different types of supplements. This may have implications for analysis and interpretation of observational studies.
Robson
Paula J
PJ
Division of Population Health and Information, Alberta Cancer Board, 14th Floor, Sun Life Place, 10123 99th Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5J 3H1. paularob@cancerboard.ab.ca
Siou
Geraldine Lo
GL
Ullman
Ruth
R
Bryant
Heather E
HE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins