Dietary supplement use among children and their caregivers in Hawaiʻi

Abstract

Current available literature indicates that the use of dietary supplements in general has been increasing among most segments of the U.S. population in recent years and continues to be a growth industry. Multivitamin/mineral supplements are most frequently reported in national studies and can contribute significant amounts of nutrients to the diet. Dietary supplement use has been reported as being higher among females and the use of dietary supplements tends to increase with age. A lack of consistent methods of data collection makes it difficult to compare the results of various national studies. Additionally, most national studies do not include ethnicities representative of those in Hawai'i. Several demographic and lifestyle characteristics are associated with supplement use, including non-Hispanic ethnicity, higher income and education, and higher intake of fruits and vegetables. Hawai'i provides a unique environment in which to observe the effects of different cultural and environmental factors on diet and dietary supplement use. This study will fill a gap in knowledge regarding supplement use among children and their caregivers in Hawai'i.