An Executive Summary

When the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) was enacted in 1994, consumers were anxious for greater access to supplements as well as to meaningful information about their health benefits. But seven years later, an important question for educators is how far has DSHEA moved the needle? At a time when there is widespread scientific consensus that supplements can play a valuable role in health promotion and disease prevention, it is important to gauge the extent to which the latest science is being incorporated into the public's decisions about self-care.

Towards this end, the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance -- a broad-based coalition of industry stakeholders -- commissioned the Dietary Supplement Barometer Survey to track American attitudes and beliefs about vitamins, minerals, herbs and specialty supplements. Conducted from June 28 through July 1, 2001 by Harris Interactive, this national poll of 1,027 Americans aged 18 and older examined the extent to which consumers use dietary supplements and their reasons why. Moreover, the survey quizzed the knowledge level of respondents about supplementation, finding that while Americans regularly incorporate supplements into their health care regimens, many could use more information about the benefits and responsible usage of these products.

What follows is a summary of these research findings:

	The majority of Americans believe in supplements and take them on a regular basis.
	Today, six in ten Americans (59 percent) report taking dietary supplements on a regular basis. Of these regular supplement users, almost half (46 percent) take a multiple vitamin/mineral product on a daily basis and more than a third (35 percent) take single vitamins, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, or Vitamin B complex.   Corresponding to the dramatic growth of herbal products over the past few years, the survey found that almost one in four Americans (23 percent) regularly use herbs and specialty supplements. Currently, 15 percent of adults now take such herbal supplements as Garlic, Ginseng and St. John's Wort while almost 8 percent regularly use such specialty supplements as SAM-E and Glucosamine/Chondroitin.
	Americans take supplements because they associate these products with improved health and well-being.
	The specific reasons that consumers cite for taking supplements is: to feel better (72 percent), to help prevent getting sick (67 percent), to help get better when they are sick (51 percent), to live longer (50 percent), to build strength and muscle (37 percent), and for weight management (12 percent).   At the same time, some Americans report taking supplements for a specific health reason (36 percent) or for sports nutrition (24 percent). In addition, a third of adults (33 percent) say that they take supplements on the advice of their doctor.   Besides these specific reasons for taking supplements, half of all Americans (51 percent) agree that supplements provide insurance that people will get the nutrition they need for good health.   At the same time, 53 percent of Americans agree that some dietary supplements offer benefits that are not matched by conventional drugs.   Equally significantly, more than half (56 percent) say that some dietary supplements offer benefits comparable to those of drugs but with fewer side effects.
	Overwhelmingly, Americans are satisfied with the dietary supplements they are taking.
	In the poll, virtually all the respondents (95 percent) say they are satisfied with the vitamins, minerals, herbs and specialty supplements they are taking. While one in four (23 percent) say they are extremely satisfied, half describe themselves as very satisfied and one-fourth (25 percent) consider themselves to be somewhat satisfied. Only 2 percent say they are not very satisfied and one percent is not satisfied at all.
	But despite the widespread use of dietary supplements, many consumers are not well versed about how specific supplements work in the body, leading to misperceptions about their responsible use.
	When it comes to calcium, three in five Americans (58 percent) incorrectly say that the mineral is more important for women after menopause than for any other group. This demonstrates a lack of understanding of calcium's benefits throughout life and especially during childhood to meet the demands of rapid growth.   Similarly, two in five Americans (41 percent) incorrectly say that the main reason for taking iron supplements is to get more energy when, in fact, iron supplementation is used to increase the production of red blood cells. In addition, 13 percent of the survey respondents do not know about the benefits of iron supplementation.   Further, one in five Americans (21 percent) incorrectly believe that most supplements produce a noticeable benefit within a week and another 12 percent are not sure about the time that is needed for supplements to achieve their stated health benefits. Accordingly, providing practical information about how supplements work and the need to take them regularly will be important to manage consumer expectations.
	At the same time, some consumers need more information about when and how to take dietary supplements.
	Compared with 91 percent of consumers who say it is necessary to follow recommended dosage guidelines for prescription drugs, less -- 71 percent -- are as meticulous when taking supplements. For this reason, it will be important to target future public education efforts at closing this gap.   Compounding the problem, the survey found that most consumers are not talking to their doctors about their supplement use. While 92 percent of adults say they consult their doctors about taking prescription drugs, just half -- 49 percent -- report discussing supplements with their physicians.   While most consumers say they have sufficient information about using supplements, four in ten (37 percent) believe they would benefit from more information about avoiding potential adverse reactions and one-fourth of adults (28 percent) would like more facts about the health benefits.

The Harris survey was conducted by phone from June 28 through July 1, 2001. Interviews were completed among 1,027 Americans using an unrestricted Random Digit Dialing technique that significantly reduces serial bias and ensures that both listed and unlisted numbers are reached. Only one interview was conducted per household.