title: Usage of plant food supplements across six European countries: findings from the PlantLIBRA consumer survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The popularity of botanical products is on the rise in Europe, with consumers using them to complement their diets or to maintain health, and products are taken in many different forms (e.g. teas, juices, herbal medicinal products, plant food supplements (PFS)). However there is a scarcity of data on the usage of such products at European level.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide an overview of the characteristics and usage patterns of PFS consumers in six European countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on PFS usage were collected in a cross-sectional, retrospective survey of PFS consumers using a bespoke frequency of PFS usage questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total sample of 2359 adult PFS consumers from Finland, Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive analyses were conducted, with all data stratified by gender, age, and country. Absolute frequencies, percentages and 95% confidence intervals are reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, an estimated 18.8% of screened survey respondents used at least one PFS. Characteristics of PFS consumers included being older, well-educated, never having smoked and self-reporting health status as "good or very good". Across countries, 491 different botanicals were identified in the PFS products used, with Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo), Oenothera biennis (Evening primrose) and Cynara scolymus (Artichoke) being most frequently reported; the most popular dose forms were capsules and pills/tablets. Most consumers used one product and half of all users took single-botanical products. Some results varied across countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PlantLIBRA consumer survey is unique in reporting on usage patterns of PFS consumers in six European countries. The survey highlights the complexity of measuring the intake of such products, particularly at pan-European level. Incorporating measures of the intake of botanicals in national dietary surveys would provide much-needed data for comprehensive risk and benefit assessments at the European level.
authors.affiliation: Fundación para la Investigación Nutricional, Barcelona Science Park, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia-Alvarez
authors.affiliation: Food, Consumer Behaviour and Health Research Centre, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.affiliation: PhytoLab GmbH & Co KG, Vestenbergsgreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Klein
authors.affiliation: Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, Romania.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dima
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.affiliation: Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Merja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isoniemi
authors.affiliation: Fundación para la Investigación Nutricional, Barcelona Science Park, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Ciber Obn Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ribas-Barba
authors.affiliation: Food, Consumer Behaviour and Health Research Centre, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Monique M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Raats
authors.affiliation: PhytoLab GmbH & Co KG, Vestenbergsgreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Eva Melanie
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Meissner
authors.affiliation: Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, Romania.
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Badea
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Maija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salmenhaara
authors.affiliation: Fundación para la Investigación Nutricional, Barcelona Science Park, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Raimon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Milà-Villarroel
authors.affiliation: Fundación para la Investigación Nutricional, Barcelona Science Park, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Viktoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Knaze
authors.affiliation: Food, Consumer Behaviour and Health Research Centre, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Charo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hodgkins
authors.affiliation: Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, Romania.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marculescu
authors.affiliation: Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Uusitalo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Restani
authors.affiliation: Fundación para la Investigación Nutricional, Barcelona Science Park, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Ciber Obn Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Biomedical and Health Research of Las Palmas, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serra-Majem
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts