Different Socio-Demographic and Lifestyle Factors Can Determine the Dietary Supplement Use in Children and Adolescents in Central-Eastern Poland

Abstract

Vitamin/mineral supplement (VMS) use has become increasingly popular in children and adolescents; however, different predictors may be associated with their usage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare determinants of VMS use in 1578 children and adolescents. Data was collected among parents of children (≤12 years old) and among adolescents (>12 years old) who attended public schools by a self-administered questionnaire. Multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for determining the predictors of VMS use. In children, the following determinants of VMS use were indicated: socioeconomic status (average vs. very good/good; OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.16–2.48), physical activity (1–5 vs. <1 h/week; OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.02–2.04), BMI (≥25 vs. 18.5–24.9 kg/m2; OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.46–0.98), and presence of chronic diseases (yes vs. no; OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.46–3.69). In adolescents, gender (male vs. female; OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.37–0.87), residential area (rural vs. urban; OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.40–0.99), BMI (<18.5 vs. 18.5–24.9 kg/m2; OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.17–0.73), and health status (average/poor vs. at least good; OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.13–3.39) were factors of VMS use. In both groups, the mother’s higher educational level, fortified food consumption and diet modification towards better food choices were predictors of VMS use. In conclusion, most of the predictors of VMS use were different in children and adolescents.

Intake of Vitamins and Minerals From Voluntarily Fortified Foods and/or Dietary Supplements in School Adolescents in Central-Eastern Poland

“…In the case of vitamin D and magnesium, the amounts from VFFs and/or VMSs were negligible (>85% of adolescents did not exceed 20% of DRI), and it would not prevent an inadequate intake (level I and II). Similarly, in our previous survey conducted among school children ( n = 677, 6–12 years), the provided amounts of vitamin D and calcium from VFF were very small ( 11 ). Although in Poland, fat spreads are mandatorily fortified with vitamins A and D, these products are rarely consumed by adolescents; <1/6 of them declared frequent usage of margarines ( 31 ).…”

“…From specific nutrients, vitamin C was used most frequently (77.6% of VMS-users), while biotin was used least frequently (20.1%) ( Supplementary Table 2 ). The reasons for MVS usage by the group of adolescents (13–20 years old) has been described in detail elsewhere ( 11 ).…”

“…Therefore, the project on the use of VFF and VMS among school children and adolescents was carried out in Central-Eastern Poland. Our previous publications identified socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants, influencing the use of these products in a group of children and adolescents ( n = 1,578, aged 5–20 years) ( 10 , 11 ), and examined nutrient intakes from VFF in a subgroup of the children ( n = 677, aged 6–12) ( 11 ). As a part of this project, we estimated vitamin and mineral intakes from additional sources (VFF and/or VMS) in relation to the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) of a subgroup of adolescents.…”

Concomitant Use of Dietary Supplements and Medicines Among Preschool and School-Aged Children in Japan

“…Similarly, it was reported that dietary supplement use was more common in those who used prescription medications and among those who had a diagnosis of chronic headaches among adolescents in the USA [25]. In addition, the presence of chronic disease is associated with dietary supplement use among children in South Korea [24] and Poland [23]. These situation is also reported in adults.…”

Dietary Behavior and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents

“…Two European studies evaluated the prevalence and determinants of dietary supplement use in children and adolescents, an important research question given that dietary supplement use has been implicated in preventable adverse drug events and emergency department visits in children and adolescents [21,22]. Data from the KiGGS Module EsKiMo II study showed that around 16% of adolescents in Germany use dietary supplements [9], and data from Eastern Poland reported that around 30% of children and adolescents use vitamin or mineral supplements [23]. Notably, the time frame for which supplement intake was queried was different in these two studies; in Germany the time frame was the previous four weeks and in Poland the past 12 months.…”