Dietary supplement use and associated variables among Turkish women

Introduction: Dietary supplement use is continuously increasing in the world and it seems to be more common among women. Data on supplement habits of women in Turkey are still limited. The purpose of this study is to determine dietary supplement use and to evaluate associated factors in Turkish women in the pre-COVID-19 period. Methods: A total of 727 Turkish women (33.4[10.3] years; 25.9[4.57] kg/m2; 162.9[6.81] cm) participated in this cross-sectional study. After piloting, the participants completed a six-part questionnaire form that was administered either face-to-face or over the phone by a trained dietitian. The questionnaire intended to collect data about demographic characteristics, use of dietary supplements and factors influencing supplement choices such as eating habits, physical activity and lifestyle habits. Results: A total of 307 participants (42.2%) used at least one dietary supplement within the previous year. The most commonly used was iron (30.6%) followed by vitamin D (30.6%), vitamin B12 (26.7%), multivitamins (18.2%), and calcium (11.4%). Supplement use decreased with higher physical activity (p=0.002). Furthermore, it was significantly higher among women who consume meals at regular times (p=0.001) and those that avoid fast food consumption (p=0.014). However, the use of dietary supplements was not associated with lower BMI, older age or higher academic level (p>0.05). Conclusions: More than 40% of women were reported using dietary supplements. The use of supplements was not associated with lower BMI, higher physical activity, older age, higher academic level smoking or drinking. Turkish women seem to show a different consumer profile from typical dietary supplement users.