Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T03:59:45.621Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Who Are the Users of Vitamin–Mineral and Herbal Preparations among Community-Living Older Adults?*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Jacquelyn McKenzie
Affiliation:
Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph Guelph
Heather H. Keller*
Affiliation:
Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph Guelph
*
Requests for offprints should be sent to: / Les demandes de tirés-a-part doivent être adressé e s à:, Heather H. Keller, R.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, ONN1G 2W1. ([email protected])

Abstract

Information on the characteristics of seniors who use supplements is lacking. A convenience sample of community-living seniors (n = 128) was recruited from 10 sites to identify factors associated with supplement use (vitamin-mineral and/or herbal preparations). Data on nutritional variables, health history, and supplement use were collected with an interview-administered questionnaire. A Propensity to Use Supplements scale was developed and was associated with increased use of herbal supplements. At the bivariate level, few characteristics distinguished users and non-users. Multivariate modelling revealed the Propensity scale and a low Body Mass Index to be factors related to the total number of supplements used. When individual scale items were examined at the bivariate level, food supply concerns, health beliefs, and a proactive role in one's own health were associated with increased supplement use. Initial results suggest seniors' attitudes towards supplements may be an important factor contributing to their decision to use supplements. Further work is required in a more diverse, randomly selected, older Canadian population.

Résumé

Il y a peu de renseignements sur les caractéristiques des personnes âgées qui utilisent les compléments. Nous avons recruté un échantillon de commodité de personnes âgées (n = 128) vivant à l'intérieur de dix sites communautaires afin d'identifier les facteurs associés à l'utilisation de compléments (vitamines-minéraux et / ou préparations à base d'herbes). Les données des variables nutritives, des antécédents de santé et de l'utilisation de compléments, ont été recueillies par l'entremise d'un questionnaire-entrevue. Nous avons développé une échelle de propension à l'utilisation des compléments qui a été associée à la majoration de l'utilisation de compléments à base d'herbes. Au niveau de l'analyse bivariée, très peu de caractéristiques séparent les utilisateurs des non-utilisateurs. Toutefois, l'analyse multifactorielle révèle que l'échelle de propension et un indice de masse corporelle inférieur sont des facteurs reliés au nombre total de compléments utilisés. Lorsque l'on fait l'analyse des facteurs individuels de l'échelle au niveau bivarié, la disponibilité alimentaire, les croyances au sujet de la santé et le rôle davantage proactif à sa propre santé correspondent à l'augmentation de l'utilisation de compléments. Les premiers résultats suggèrent que les attitudes des personnes âgées envers les compléments peuvent contribuer à leur décision d'ajouter ces derniers à leur alimentation. Des recherches ultérieures sont nécessaires au sein d'une population canadienne de personnes âgées, choisi au hasard et diversifiée.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

*

The authors wish to thank Richard Goy for his statistical advice, and Aimee Krupansky, Lynn Boudreau, Pat Vanderkooy, and Desirée De Waal for their help as research assistants. Without the dedication of these individuals, this project would not have succeeded. The assistance of the recruitment site management and the seniors themselves is also greatly appreciated.

References

Angus Reid. (1997, August 22–24). Use and dangers of alternative medicines and practices [Poll]. Retrieved January 23, 1998, from http://www.angusreid.com/pressrel/alternat.htmGoogle Scholar
Astin, J.A. (1998). Why patients use alternative medicine: Results of a national study. Journal of the American Medical Association, 279(19), 15481553.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bender, M., Levy, A., Schucker, R., & YeE., (1992). Trends in prevalence and magnitude of vitamin and mineral supplement usage and correlation with health status. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 92(9), 10961101.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Betts, N., & Rezek, J. (1989). Attitudes of rural and urban elderly concerning supplement use. Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly, 8(3/4), 6777.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blais, R., Maiga, A., & Aboubacar, A. (1997). How different are users and non-users of alternative medicine. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 88(3), 159162.Google Scholar
Cassileth, B. (1999). Complementary therapies: Overview and state of the art. Cancer Nursing, 22(1), 8590.Google Scholar
Donald, E., Tapan, K., Hargreaves, J.A., Thompson, G., Overton, T., Peterson, R.D., & Chao, E. (1992). Dietary intake and biochemical status of a selected group of older Albertans taking or not taking micronutrient supplements. Journal of the Canadian Dietetic Association, 53(1), 3943.Google Scholar
Eisenberg, D.M., Davis, R.B., Ettner, S.L., Appel, S., Wilkey, S., Van Rompay, M., & Kessler, R.C. (1998). Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990–1997. Journal of the American Medical Association, 280(18), 15691575.Google Scholar
Foster, D., Philips, R., Hamel, M., & Eisenberg, D. (2000). Alternative medicine use in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 48(12).Google Scholar
Fries, C.J., & Menzies, K.S. (2000). Gullible fools or desperate pragmatists? A profile of people who use rejected alternative health care providers. The Canadian Journal of Public Health, 91(3), 217219.Google Scholar
Gibson, R. (1990). Principles of nutritional assessment. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Gray, G., Paganini-Hill, A., & Ross, R. (1983). Dietary intake and nutrient supplement use in a southern California retirement community. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 38, 122128.Google Scholar
Gray, S.L., Hanlon, J.T., Fillenbaum, G.G., Wall, W.E., & Bales, C. (1996). Predictors of nutritional supplement use by the elderly. Pharmacotherapy, 16(4), 715720.Google Scholar
Health and Welfare Canada. (1988). Promoting healthy weights: A discussion paper. Ottawa, ON: Minister of Supply and Services.Google Scholar
Ipsos-Reid. (2001, October 9). Canadians and food safety. Retrieved November 25, 2002, from http://www.ipsosreid.com/media/dsp_displaypr_cdn.cfm?id_to_view=1324Google Scholar
Kaptchuk, T.J., & Eisenberg, D.M. (1998). The persuasive appeal of alternative medicine. Annals of Internal Medicine, 129, 10611065.Google Scholar
Keller, H.H., McKenzie, J.D., & Goy, R.E. (2001). Construct validation and test-retest reliability of SCREEN Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition. Journal of Gerontology, Medical Sciences, 56A(9),:M552M558.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kleinbaum, D. (1994). Logistic regression: A self-learning text. New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Lyle, B.J., Mares-Perlman, J.A., Klein, B.E., Klein, R., & Greger, J.L. (1998). Supplement users differ from nonusers in demographic, lifestyle, dietary and health characteristics. Journal of Nutrition, 128, 23552362.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McKenzie, J.D. (1999). Vitamin-mineral supplement and herbal remedy use in community-living older adults. Unpublished master's thesis, Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON.Google Scholar
McKenzie, J.D., & Keller, H.H. (2001). Use of vitamin-mineral supplements and herbal remedies among community-living older adults. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 92(4), 286289.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Millar, J. (1997). Use of alternative health care practitioners by Canadians. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 88(3), 154158.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Montbriand, M.J. (2000). Senior and health-professionals' perceptions and communication about prescription and alternative therapies. Canadian Journal of Aging, 19(1), 3556.Google Scholar
Oakland, M.J., & Thomsen, P.A. (1990). Beliefs about and usage of vitamin/mineral supplements by the elderly participants of rural congregate meal programs in central Iowa. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 90(5), 715716.Google Scholar
Payette, H., & Gray-Donald, K. (1991). Do vitamin and mineral supplements improve the dietary intake of elderly Canadians? Canadian Journal of Public Health, 82, 5859.Google ScholarPubMed
Planta, M., Gundersen, B., & Petitt, J. (2000). Prevalence of the use of herbal products in a low-income population. Family Medicine, 32(4), 252257.Google Scholar
Powell, D. (2002). Food safety: A scientific perspective. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 63(1).Google Scholar
Radimer, K.L., Subar, A.F., & Thompson, F.E. (2000). Nonvitamin, nonmineral dietary supplements: Issues and findings from NHANES III. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 100, 447454.Google Scholar
Rajendran, P., Thompson, R., & Reich, S. (2001). The use of alternative therapies by patients with Parkinson's disease. Neurology, 57(5), 790794.Google Scholar
Ranno, B., Wardlaw, G., & Gieger, C. (1988). What characterizes elderly women who overuse vitamin and mineral supplements? Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 88(3), 347348.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stoehr, G.P., Gaguli, M., Seaberg, E.C., Echement, D.A., & Belle, S. (1997). Over-the-counter medication use in an older rural community: The movies project. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 45(2), 158165.Google Scholar
Streiner, D., Norman, F. (1995). Health measurement scales-A practical guide to their development and use (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Verhoef, M., Russell, M., & Love, E. (1994). Alternative medicine use in rural Alberta. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 85(5), 308309.Google Scholar
Wolsko, P., Ware, L., Kutner, J., Lin, C., Albertson, G., Cyran, L., Schilling, L., & Anderson, R. (2000). Alternative/complementary medicine: Wider usage than generally appreciated. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 6(4), 321326.Google Scholar