Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

Dietary supplement use has been rising in many parts of the world as this viewed as a better way to manage health. Although general population perceives consumption of these products as safe and effective dietary supplements should be carefully used due to lack of strict regulations and possible unk...

Dietary supplement use has been rising in many parts of the world as this viewed as a better way to manage health. Although general population perceives consumption of these products as safe and effective dietary supplements should be carefully used due to lack of strict regulations and possible unknown interaction with food and other drugs. Dietary supplement use can be looked as a health determinant factor. Relationship between health and socioeconomic status has been well researched. Whereas many studies showed that low socioeconomic status is associated with worse health outcome, lower utilization and access and to health care system, research on the association between socioeconomic status and consumption of dietary supplement is quite lacking. Therefore it deemed necessary to find current patterns of dietary supplement use and whether socioeconomic status may affect such usage pattern..
To do so sixth Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (KNHANES) was used. From 22,948 participants adults aged 19 and over and have provided information on dietary supplement use were selected. Afterwards the usage pattern was analyzed based on socioeconomic status, health behavior, and health status of a participant. Other covariates also include 23 medical conditions scored based on ICD-10 version of Charlson Comorbidity Index. At the end there were 13,240 participants included in the study.
Approximately 44.53% were dietary supplement consumers. Participants with higher education level were more likely to consume dietary supplement by 1.15 time (95% CI 1.037 to 1.288). Higher income participants had higher OR of consuming supplement by 1.172 (95%CI 1.053 to 1.304) than normal income groups. Study also showed that blue collar workers were less likely to consume dietary supplement than white collar workers with its OR of 0.780 (95% CI 0.689 to 0.882).
Current study result confirmed that dietary supplement use is associated with SES. The anticipation that this will increase awareness in dietary supplement usage patterns. Result found from this study will form the basis for further research for public education about the safe and effective use of the product.

주제어