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Who Are the Users of Vitamin–Mineral and Herbal Preparations among Community-Living Older Adults?*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Jacquelyn McKenzie  and
Heather H. Keller
Jacquelyn McKenzie
Affiliation:
Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph Guelph
Heather H. Keller*
Affiliation:
Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph Guelph
*
Requests for offprints should be sent to: / Les demandes de tirés-a-part doivent être adressé e s à:, Heather H. Keller, R.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, ONN1G 2W1. ([email protected])
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Abstract

Information on the characteristics of seniors who use supplements is lacking. A convenience sample of community-living seniors (n = 128) was recruited from 10 sites to identify factors associated with supplement use (vitamin-mineral and/or herbal preparations). Data on nutritional variables, health history, and supplement use were collected with an interview-administered questionnaire. A Propensity to Use Supplements scale was developed and was associated with increased use of herbal supplements. At the bivariate level, few characteristics distinguished users and non-users. Multivariate modelling revealed the Propensity scale and a low Body Mass Index to be factors related to the total number of supplements used. When individual scale items were examined at the bivariate level, food supply concerns, health beliefs, and a proactive role in one's own health were associated with increased supplement use. Initial results suggest seniors' attitudes towards supplements may be an important factor contributing to their decision to use supplements. Further work is required in a more diverse, randomly selected, older Canadian population.

Résumé

Il y a peu de renseignements sur les caractéristiques des personnes âgées qui utilisent les compléments. Nous avons recruté un échantillon de commodité de personnes âgées (n = 128) vivant à l'intérieur de dix sites communautaires afin d'identifier les facteurs associés à l'utilisation de compléments (vitamines-minéraux et / ou préparations à base d'herbes). Les données des variables nutritives, des antécédents de santé et de l'utilisation de compléments, ont été recueillies par l'entremise d'un questionnaire-entrevue. Nous avons développé une échelle de propension à l'utilisation des compléments qui a été associée à la majoration de l'utilisation de compléments à base d'herbes. Au niveau de l'analyse bivariée, très peu de caractéristiques séparent les utilisateurs des non-utilisateurs. Toutefois, l'analyse multifactorielle révèle que l'échelle de propension et un indice de masse corporelle inférieur sont des facteurs reliés au nombre total de compléments utilisés. Lorsque l'on fait l'analyse des facteurs individuels de l'échelle au niveau bivarié, la disponibilité alimentaire, les croyances au sujet de la santé et le rôle davantage proactif à sa propre santé correspondent à l'augmentation de l'utilisation de compléments. Les premiers résultats suggèrent que les attitudes des personnes âgées envers les compléments peuvent contribuer à leur décision d'ajouter ces derniers à leur alimentation. Des recherches ultérieures sont nécessaires au sein d'une population canadienne de personnes âgées, choisi au hasard et diversifiée.

Keywords

agingvitamin-mineralsherbal preparationsolder adultssupplementsalternative-drug usevieillissementvitamines-minérauxpréparations à base d'herbespersonnes âgéescomplémentsphytothérapie
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , Summer/L'été 2003 , pp. 167 - 175
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2003

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Footnotes

*

The authors wish to thank Richard Goy for his statistical advice, and Aimee Krupansky, Lynn Boudreau, Pat Vanderkooy, and Desirée De Waal for their help as research assistants. Without the dedication of these individuals, this project would not have succeeded. The assistance of the recruitment site management and the seniors themselves is also greatly appreciated.

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