Newswise — Philadelphia, November 8, 2017 – Adolescents in developed countries frequently use dietary supplements despite a lack of knowledge about possible harmful effects or drug interactions. Often males turn to dietary supplements in an attempt to increase their performance for sports while females are more concerned with preventing illness and disease. To understand the underlying reasons and sources of recommendation for dietary supplement use among adolescents in Slovenia, researchers at the University of Ljubljana studied both athletes and nonathletes.

“According to the existing information, adolescents are the most susceptible and misinformed group of customers; thus this population is the target market for dietary supplements,” said lead author Katja Zdešar Kotnik, BSc, member of the Biotechnical Faculty at the University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

The study was conducted using data collected within the Analysis of Children’s Development in Slovenia cross-sectional study in 2014. The sample included close to 1,500 participants aged 14-19 years enrolled in 15 public high schools. An equal number of male and female students answered questions about their use of dietary supplements, reasons and source of recommendation for using dietary supplements, average daily physical activity, and categories of sports in which some of them trained. Dietary supplements were grouped by the following types: vitamins, minerals, multivitamins/multiminerals, proteins and amino acids, and fats and fatty acids.

After analysis of the data, enhancement of sport performance was cited as the top reason for consuming dietary supplements by both male athletes and nonathletes, followed by growth and development of bones and muscles. Similarly, improving their immune system was named as the primary reason for both female athletes and nonathletes, followed by sports performance. Adolescents using dietary supplements at least several times a year were more likely to be engaged in team sports such as football and basketball than in individual sports. Over 40 percent of both genders decided to use supplements on their own, while 30 percent based their usage on a recommendation from parents or other relatives.

“We found the use of dietary supplements was high in nonathletes and athletes of both genders although available evidence warns against noncritical use,” Zdešar Kotnik said. “This is likely due to marketing campaigns from manufacturers and uncritical coverage in lay publications.”

The results of this study contribute a deeper understanding of the reasons and sources of recommendations for dietary supplementation by adolescents. This information is important for developing appropriate public health education strategies for physically active youth, their parents, and coaches.

---

 

Notes for Editors

The article is “Faster, Stronger, Healthier: Adolescent-Stated Reasons for Dietary Supplementation,” by Katja Zdešar Kotnik, BSc; Gregor Jurak, PhD; Gregor Starc, PhD; Petra Golja, PhD (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2017.07.005). It appears in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, volume 49, issue 10 (November/December 2017) published by Elsevier.  

Full text of the article is available to credentialed journalists upon request; contact Eileen Leahy at +1 732-238-3628 or [email protected] to obtain copies. To schedule an interview with the authors, please contact Katja Zdešar Kotnik, BSc, Biotechnical Faculty at the University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia, at [email protected].

About the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior

The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB), the official journal of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB), is a refereed, scientific periodical that serves as a resource for all professionals with an interest in nutrition education and dietary/physical activity behaviors. The purpose of JNEB is to document and disseminate original research, emerging issues, and practices relevant to nutrition education and behavior worldwide and to promote healthy, sustainable food choices. It supports the society’s efforts to disseminate innovative nutrition education strategies, and communicate information on food, nutrition, and health issues to students, professionals, policy makers, targeted audiences, and the public.

The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior features articles that provide new insights and useful findings related to nutrition education research, practice, and policy. The content areas of JNEB reflect the diverse interests of health, nutrition, education, Cooperative Extension, and other professionals working in areas related to nutrition education and behavior. As the Society's official journal, JNEB also includes occasional policy statements, issue perspectives, and member communications. www.jneb.org

About Elsevier

Elsevier (www.elsevier.com) is a global information analytics business that helps institutions and professionals progress science, advance healthcare and improve performance for the benefit of humanity. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and professional education; including ScienceDirect (www.sciencedirect.com), Scopus (www.scopus.com), SciVal (www.elsevier.com/solutions/scival), ClinicalKey (www.clinicalkey.com) and Sherpath (https://evolve.elsevier.com/education/sherpath). Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet (www.thelancet.com) and Cell (www.cell.com), more than 35,000 e-book titles and many iconic reference works, including Gray’s Anatomy (www.elsevier.com/books/grays-anatomy/standring/978-0-7020-5230-9). Elsevier is part of RELX Group (www.relx.com), a global provider of information and analytics for professionals and business customers across industries. www.elsevier.com