Researchers employed by the German Federal Institute for Threat Evaluation (BfR) in Berlin, Germany, assessed the usage of DS, motivations, data conduct, perceptions, and intentions of continued use in 1,071 members.
The usage of DS was excessive, with 76.9% of members reporting utilization, with motivations to be used extraordinarily diverse.
In addition to the excessive share of use amongst members, outcomes indicated minerals have been essentially the most generally used dietary supplements, adopted by nutritional vitamins. Magnesium was the highest particular person DS, utilized by over half of members, whereas nutritional vitamins D, B12, and C, together with minerals like zinc, calcium, and iron, have been additionally frequent.
“These outcomes additionally present beginning factors for communicators with the intention of higher understanding the perceptions and conduct of DS customers for tailor-made data providers,” the researchers famous.
World complement use pushed by well being values
DS use is globally widespread; earlier analysis confirmed that 57% of adults in Germany used DS, in contrast with 34–49% within the USA, 71percentin Denmark, 53% within the Netherlands, 41% in France, 39% in Japan, and 54% in China.
A earlier examine recognized 4 key elements linked to DS use: sociodemographic and well being backgrounds, motivations like well being administration, data sources, e.g., docs or social media influencers, and private attitudes towards dietary supplements.
Whereas intentions to make use of DS sooner or later have been underneath studied, early proof confirmed they have been formed by well being values and data ranges.
Well being-conscious younger girls lead the complement development
The researchers carried out a web based survey in September 2024. They categorized members as DS customers if they’d taken a minimum of one among 61 listed substances (nutritional vitamins, minerals, botanicals, or different dietary supplements) up to now 12 months.
Use was assessed throughout 4 predominant classes: nutritional vitamins, minerals, botanicals, and different bioactive substances.
Nutritional vitamins included vitamin A, the B-complex group (B1, B2, B6, B12, folic acid, biotin, niacin, pantothenic acid), vitamin C, D, E, Ok, and beta-carotene.
The 17 minerals assessed included calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, selenium, iodine, fluoride, and others.
Botanicals within the questionnaire included bitter orange, aloe, curcumin, maca, valerian, hawthorn, spirulina, ashwagandha, ginseng, milk thistle, ginkgo, and pumpkin seed.
Additionally they assessed the usage of 18 different bioactive substances, similar to omega fatty acids, amino acids, proteins, probiotics, prebiotics, collagen, creatine, coenzymes, melatonin, choline, CBD, and spermidine.
In comparison with non-users, DS customers have been typically feminine and youthful. Schooling degree confirmed no vital distinction. Customers have been extra health-conscious, extra prone to search well being data, and higher in a position to consider well being data than non-users.
Amongst DS customers, a very powerful motivations included sickness prevention, nutrient provision, and sustaining or enhancing well being. Motivations based mostly on social developments or influencer suggestions have been a lot weaker.
In actual fact, most members have been prone to obtain DS suggestions from associates, relations, and physicians, whereas pharmacists, sports activities professionals, and gross sales workers have been much less frequent sources. Youthful members reported being extra prone to attempt a brand new DS for the aim of preventive well being.
The researchers famous that well being communicators ought to tailor messages to particular person segments and motivations. They defined that preventive customers might reply to balanced risk-benefit data, whereas socially motivated customers may have help in evaluating exterior recommendation.
Supply: Frontiers in Diet doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1663562; “Exploring motivations, data conduct, perceptions, and intentions amongst dietary complement customers: a cross-sectional survey examine in Germany”Authors: Janzik, R. et al
