Journal List > J Nutr Health > v.46(6) > 1081321

Lee, Han, and Kim: Prevalence of vitamin · mineral supplement use and its related factors among Korean adolescents

Abstract

This study is conducted in order to investigate the prevalence of vitamin·mineral (VM) supplement use and its related factors among Korean adolescents. Using a cross-sectional study design, information was obtained by questionnaires from adolescents selected by stratified sampling in large, small and middle-size cities, as well as rural areas of the whole country, followed by convenience sampling. The total number of participants in this study was 1,407 adolescents (15.2 ± 1.6 years) attending middle or high schools, chosen from various cities and rural areas in Korea. The prevalence of VM supplement use was 65.5%, and there was no significant difference between the genders. City dwellers took VM supplements more frequently than those adolescents from rural areas (p < 0.01). The VM supplement users tended to have higher family income, parents' academic background, and socioeconomic status, respectively (p < 0.001). The greater part of VM supplement users replied that they acquired their nutritional information from their parents, relatives and friends, while many nonusers replied that they did it from school classes (p < 0.05). Compared to nonusers, VM supplement users had greater 'self concern about health' (p < 0.05), 'parents' concern about child's health, growth, and nutritional intake' (p < 0.001), and 'parents' concern about child's grade point' (p < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between users and nonusers when it came to 'self perception of body shape' or 'BMI'. In addition, users significantly had greater nutritional beliefs concerning VM supplements than nonusers (p < 0.001). These results showed that VM supplement use has been common among adolescents in Korea, and supplement use of subjects has been related with various factors. Among them, it was shown that especially parents great influence the use of VM supplements by adolescents. Thus, not only education for adolescents, but also that for parents is needed to help adolescents take VM supplements properly.

Figures and Tables

Table 1
General characteristics and vitamin·mineral supplement use of the subjects
jnh-46-552-i001

1) User was defined as the subject who consumed vitamin and mineral supplements as non prescription drug and/or health functional foods once or twice a week for over a month during the last one year. 2) Values are number (%). 3) NS: Not significant by the χ2-test at α = 0.05. *: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01, ***: p < 0.001 4) Socioeconomic status of the family was calculated by scoring monthly family income, level of education of father, and his occupation on a 3-point scale each, and adding up those scores. It is classified into 'low' if it is less than 4 out of 9, 'middle' if between 5 and 6, 'high' if between 7 and 9.25,26)

Table 2
Dietary behaviors and vitamin·mineral supplement use of the subjects
jnh-46-552-i002

1) Values are number (%). 2) NS: Not significant by the χ2-test at α = 0.05. *: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01, ***: p < 0.001

Table 3
Health related variables and vitamin·mineral supplement use of the subjects
jnh-46-552-i003

1) Values are number (%). 2) NS: Not significant by χ2-test at α = 0.05. *: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01, ***: p < 0.001 3) BMI: Body mass index, kg/m2, underweight <18.5, normal 18.5-22.9, overweight 23-24.9, obesity ≥25

Table 4
Nutritional beliefs concerning vitamin·mineral supplements of the subjects1)
jnh-46-552-i004

1) Minimum & maximum score for each statement is 1-5 and that for total statements is 9-45. 1 = very strongly disagree, 2 = strongly disagree, 3 = so so, 4 = strongly agree, 5 = very strongly agree 2) Mean ± SD, ***: p < 0.001

Table 5
Significant variables affecting vitamin·mineral supplement use of the subjects
jnh-46-552-i005

*: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01, ***: p < 0.001

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