• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.236-252
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• 1994

This survey was accomplished to investigate the patterns of vitamin/mineral supplements usage in the middle-aged. Eight hundred seventy two persons of middle age were chosen from various cities and rural communities in Korea. In this study, those factors affecting vitamin/mineral supplements consumption, and usage patterns were examined. In addition, vitamin and mineral intakes through supplements were calculated, and then compared with RDA. As a result, vitamin/mineral supplements were taken by 40.8% of subjects. The higher the age, education level, family income and socioeconomic status were, the higher the percentage of supplements consumption was. City-dewellers used them more often than rural-dewellers. And vitamin/mineral supplements were taken frequently in subjects who perceived their health as poor, and concerned much about health. Illness and climacteric symptoms were also related with elevated usage. However, nutritional knowledge and food habit did not affect supplements consumption. Users mostly received information about supplements from TV/radio/newspapers, of family/friends. One of the mainly cited reasons for taking supplements, next to ' to give energy', was 'to be healthier'. The four most favored supplements, in ranking order, were vitamin B-complex, vitamin E, vitamin A and Ca. Most vitamin and mineral intakes through supplements were much greater than RDA except Ca. Especially, vitamin B1 intake was the highest as 49.6$\pm$34.9 times of RDA. In conclusion, vitamin/mineral supplements used by the middle-aged in Korea was as high as those of western countries. Supplements consumption seemed to be related with affluence, poor health status, and high level of health consiousness. And supplements tended to be taken for health promotion irrespective of scientific background. Most vitamin and mineral intakes by supplements were exceeded RDA, and their intake ranges were very wide. Thus some subjects should give attention to the potential harms of megadose.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 1997

Use of the viamin-mineral supplements markedly increased with the awareness of diet and health. Data were collected from the self-administered questionnaire of 450 free living elderly, 60 to 94 years old, in Korea, to assess the relationships between socioeconomic variables, beliefs about nutrition, and the factors affecting gupplements usage. In addition, vitamin-mineral intakes through the supplements were calculated, and compared with RDA. 44.9% of the subjects took the vitamin-mineral supplements, and significantly higher percentage of women(49.3%) than men(38.1%) took supplements(p<0.05). The higher the education level, monthly pocket money, the percentage of supplements consumption was higher. People living in large cities took more supplements than those in small cities. One of the mainly cited reasons for taking supplements was to maintain health. The most favored nutrient supplements used by the subjects were in the order of vitamin B complex, vitamin E and Calcium, and vitamin-mineral intake through the supplements were much greater than RDA and ranges of their intakes were very wide. Vitamin B1 and vitamin E were observed to consume excessive amount(63 times of RDA and 40 times of RDA, respectively). The reasons for supplementation were often inappropriate and unreliable sources of information were used. Thus nutritional understanding and education of the elderly peopled are needed in regard to the use of vitamin-mineral supplements, and the relationship between adequate diet and good health.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.268-276
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• 1999

This study was performed to investigate the factors related to vitamin & mineral supplement use by the adolescents. Nine hundred and seventy-two adolescent boys and girls attending middle or high schools were chosen from various cities and rural communities in Korea. In this study, the factors affecting vitamin & mineral supplement use were analyzed from a self-administered questionnaire. It was found that vitamin & mineral supplements were taken by 31.3% of subjects. High school students(p<.01), female girl students(p<.001), and rural-dwellers(p<.001) took vitamin & mineral supplements more frequently than their complementing groups. The socioeconomic status of the family (p<.01), and supplement consumption by parents and siblings respectively affected the supplement use by the subjects(p<.001). Vitamin·mineral supplements were consumed more often in subjects who perceived their health as poor(p<.001), skipped breakfast(p<.05), and received nutritional information from books or magazines(p<.05). However, food habits and nutritional knowledge score of subjects did not affect vitamin & mineral supplement use. These findings suggest that adolescents take vitamin & mineral supplements commonly, and they tend to use supplements without prescription. Vitamin·mineral supplement consumption seems to be affected by general characteristics, health related variables, and meal management attitudes of subjects. Therefore, nutritional understanding and education are required in regard to the used of vitamin & mineral supplements, and the relationship between balanced diet and good health for the adolescents.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1066-1075
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• 1998

The use of vitamin and mineral supplements among 330 preschool children was examined for relationships with general characteristics and food habits. Mean intake of vitamin and minerals obtained from supplement use was calrulated. The percrntage of preshool children receiving vitamin-mineral supplements was 34.2% and a higher percentage of use was shown in boys(p<0.05). Among preschool children, supplement use by mother and children showed some association(p<0.05). Socio-economi factors had little influence on vitamin-mineral supplement usage. There D·ere no significant differences in. weight and height between the users and non-users. The parent's main reasons f3r providing their preschoolers with vitamin-mineral supplements were that they were unsure that the preschoolers were receving sufficient nutrients from their diet, and that they were not healthy. The reasons for not feeding their children vitamin-mineral supplements were that considered the preschoolers were eating well and were healthy, therefore vitamin-mineral supplements were not necessary. The mean vitamin intake obtained from the supplements was about 2-7 times the RDA, but the level of minerals(Ca, Fe, Zn) furnished by supplement use was 1/2 of the RDA. (Korean J Nutrition 31(6) : 1()66-1075, 1998)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.332-342
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• 2000

Vitamin mineral supplement usage by self-prescription is popular behavior among adolescents. This study was conducted to investigate the behaviors of vitamin·mineral supplement usage and the relationship between demographic variables and supplement usage by healthy adolescents. Nine hundred seventy two boys and girls, aged 13-18 years, attending general middle or high schools were chosen from various cities and rural communities in Korea. As a result, vitamin·]mineral supplements were taken by 31.3% of subjects. Users tended to take vitamin·mineral supplements more frequently when they were healthy than when they suffered from disease. The taking period of supplements was different according to school type such as middle or high school(p<.05), sex(p<.001) and residence of subjects(p<.01). The main information source of supplements was newspaper/magazine/TV, and it was affected by sex(p<.05) and residence(p<.01). Vitamin·mineral supplements were generally recommended by their mothers instead of health professionals. The commonly cited taking reason of supplements was affected by sex(p<.01)and socioeconomic status of family(p<.05). The frequently responded effect obtained from supplement use was recovery from fatigue and it was different according to sex(p<.01). The major mentioned reason of not taking vitamin·mineral supplements by non-users was 'I eat a balanced diet'. The most frequently consumed supplements were vitamin C, followed by multi-vitamins supplements, and this pattern was different according to school type(p<.001), sex(p<.01) and residence(p<.05). These findings show that the behaviors of vitamin·mineral supplement usage by subjects are not resonable, and their supplement usage tends to be affected by demographic variables. Therefore, nutritional understanding and education that are intended to form the resonable behaviors toward vitamin·mineral supplement usage of adolescents should be provided with considering the relationship between demographic variables and supplement usage.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.369-377
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• 2006

Data from the 2001 Korea Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey, were analyzed to assess prevalence of health intended food use overall and in relation to socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics. Health intended food were classified into four broadly defined categories: vitamin and mineral supplements, health aid food, animal protein based restorative food and medicinal plants. Thirty three percent of adults aged 20 years or older reported taking health intended food in the past year : twenty four percent took vitamin or mineral supplements and medicinal plants were taken by 17 % of adults, health aid food by 15% and animal protein based restorative food by 6%. In multivariate logistic regression, female gender, older age, more education, regular exercise and non smoking were associated with greater use of vitamin or mineral supplements. Dietary quality was significantly associated with use of vitamin or mineral supplements or health aid food but not with use of medicinal plants or animal protein based restorative foods. Obese persons were less likely to take vitamin or mineral supplements. These findings suggest that epidemiologic studies of diet, demographic or lifestyle and health take health intended food use into account because of high prevalence of use of the food by the population and differential use of the food by socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.480-486
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• 2010

Taking vitamin and mineral supplements is increasingly common with the rapid economic growth. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin and mineral supplement use among adults aged 20 or older from the third Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey data and to explore the effect of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors as well as nutrient intake on taking supplements. People who had participated in both a health questionnaire and a nutritional survey were selected, and 2,871 men and 3,555 women were finally included in this analysis. Both men and women with a higher level of education, those residing in a metropolitan area, and those with higher income were more likely to take supplements. Health behaviors were not significantly associated with taking supplements. Mean nutrient intake of all nutrients except energy intake was not significantly different in men or women taking supplements after adjusting for age, education, marital status, resident area, smoking, and energy intake. Compared to Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) for Koreans, most vitamins and minerals, except vitamin $B_2$ and calcium, were consumed at higher than the Recommended Intake (RI) without supplements. In conclusion, taking supplements such as vitamin $B_2$ and calcium may promote health and prevent disease. However, the type and frequency of other vitamin and mineral supplements consumed should be considered with caution.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2001

Consumers'frequent use of micronutrient supplements has caused concerns o possible overdoses and prompted the view that the appropriate provision of nutrition information on such supplements is needed. In this study the nutrition information on vitamin-mineral supplements in Korea was evaluated based on the labels on the supplements. Consumers'use, reliance on and demand for nutrition information were examined by self-administered questionnaire. Subjects were 1,203 middle-aged housewives. Under examination were 141 multinutrient products (86.6%) and single nutrient products (13.4%). Various names and units were used for the same nutrient and the labels were not informative to consumers. The mode of nutrients contents in the supplements were several fold of RDA though not in the range of toxicity. %RDA value was seldom shown on the label. Currently these supplements are classified as general drugs in Korea so they are not subject to regulations on nutrition labeling. Half of the subjects read the nutrient content list but two-thirds of them did not understand the information. Numerous health claims related to diseases were listed on the label and more than half of the subjects read them and one-third believed those health claims. These results indicate the need for an appropriate format for nutrition information on vitamin-mineral supplements.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.341-351
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• 2018

Objectives: Use of dietary supplements containing vitamins and minerals is growing in Korean adults, especially in pregnant and lactating women. Vitamin and mineral supplements are available in different composition and in a wide range of contents. The purposes of the study were to examine nutrient composition and content of vitamin and mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women and assess their appropriateness as dietary supplements. Methods: Information on the name, manufacturer, nutrient composition, and usage of vitamin and mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women were obtained from the homepage of the Food Safety Information Portal managed by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and Korean Index of Medical Specialties. A total of 264 products were identified. Results: Among 264 products, 26.1% were single nutrient products, and 73.9% were multinutrient products. The most commonly included nutrient was iron (70.1%), folic acid (66.3%), vitamin $B_{12}$ (45.8%), vitamin C (38.6%), and vitamin $B_6$ (38.6%). Although more than 50% of products contained nutrients less than 150% of Recommended Nutrient Intakes or Adequate Intakes for daily use, some products contained inappropriately high amounts of nutrients. When a maximum daily dose of supplements was taken as described on the label, iron in 73 products (39.5%), folic acid in 14 products (8.0%) were likely to be consumed in amounts greater than Tolerable Upper Intake Levels. Most products were assessed as inappropriate for pregnant women due to the possibility of excessive intake of vitamins or minerals when compared with Dietary Reference Intakes. Conclusions: Pregnant and lactating women need to carefully select dietary supplements containing adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals. Nutritionists should provide guidelines regarding selection of appropriate vitamin and mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2006

It has been reported that taking a proper amount of calcium and vitamin D helps to increase bone mineral density (BMD) and is effective in decreasing the risk of osteoporosis. This study investigated the supplementary effects of calcium and vitamin D on postmenopausal women who had osteoporosis and used calcium and vitamin D supplements. The study subjects consisted of osteoporotic postmenopausal women who were recruited from the Department of Orthopedics in a university-affiliated hospital. Sixty-seven study subjects were orally administrated 1,000 mg of calcium (calcium carbonate) and 2.5 mg of active vitamin D (1-$\alpha$ hydroxyvitamin D) (cholecalciferol 250 IU) twice a day for a year and a half. BMD and biochemical markers were evaluated and repeated every six months. One year after the intervention test, the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine was significantly increased as compared to the baseline. Six months after supplement administration, the level of serum alkaline phosphatase began to decrease, and afterwards a significant difference was maintained Concentration of 1, 25-dihydroxy-vitamin D at 1.5 years was higher than that of the baseline. In comparison with that of the baseline, the level of urinary hydroxyproline in the study subjects over six months was significantly decreased This study continued that effects such as BMD improvement and changes in biochemical markers appeared at least one year after administration of supplements.