Prevalence of, and factors associated with health supplement use in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: a population-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Health supplement (HS) products that are available in the Emirate of Dubai (United Arab Emirates; UAE) contain chemicals that may adversely affect human health. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of, and factors associated with HS consumption, knowledge, related adverse events, and reporting practices of adverse events amongst the general population in Dubai, UAE. Methods A cross-sectional household telephone survey using a computer-assisted questionnaire was conducted amongst a random representative sample ( n = 1203) of the Dubai population that assessed HS use and knowledge. Dependent variables were supplement use and reports of adverse events while independent variables included socio-demographic factors, knowledge, attitudes, and practice. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with HS use. Results Among the 1203 participants in this study, 455 (37.8%) reported ever using HS. Amongst ever-users, reasons for use were to improve health (66.1%), for bodybuilding (9.9%), disease prevention (6.8%), and weight management (5.3%). The majority of users purchased their HS from pharmacies (88.4%) or were prescribed HS (46.6%). Vitamins were the most commonly used HS (87.9%) followed by minerals (10.5%) and sports nutrition products (10.5%). Only 2.9% of users experienced an adverse event associated with HS use which all resolved when the HS was discontinued. Only three of those affected reported the incident. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that HS use was independently associated with female gender (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]; 3.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.26–4.70), higher income (AOR 2.41, 95% CI: 1.20–4.83), being a past-smoker (AOR 2.39, 95% CI: 1.27–4.48), having an allergy (AOR 1.75, 95% CI: 1.14–2.66), more frequent doctor visits (AOR 1.86, 95% CI: 1.02–3.39), taking prescribed medications (AOR 1.47, 95% CI: 1.04–2.06), and knowledge about HS (AOR 3.91, 95% CI: 2.26–6.76). Conclusions Our study provides the first population-based estimates of HS use and HS-related adverse events in the Gulf region. Adverse events associated with HS are infrequent and this may be due to the well-developed regulatory framework in Dubai and the high level of knowledge amongst consumers who mainly consume vitamins and minerals on the advice of pharmacists or healthcare professionals. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-019-2593-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Nutritional Supplement Use Among Older Chinese Adults: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in China

“…Our study showed that women used NSs, such as calcium and multivitamins, more often than men. This result is consistent with previous studies that have shown a higher interest in NS use among female consumers ( 25 – 27 ). Some researchers attribute this to women being more concerned than men about their health, as they feel more responsible for the wellbeing of other family members ( 2 ).…”

Diets and dietary supplements used during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates: A cross-sectional survey

“…The higher consumption of these compounds was also noted in two cross-sectional studies in Poland, and improving immunity was found to be the main reason for supplementation ( Hamulka et al, 2021 ). Even though DDS may be generally regarded as safe, some of these substances may have a wide range of possible actions, and their uncontrolled use may lead to potentially hazardous interactions with commonly used medications, particularly among the elderly ( Abdulla et al, 2019a ). For example, garlic and ginger can increase the risk of bleeding when administered with anticoagulants ( Moyad, 2010 ).…”

“…The use of alternative remedies like DDS for the management of diseases in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as in the Middle East is a widespread practice that has historical, traditional, and religious roots ( Ahmed et al, 2015 ; al Marshedi et al, 2017; AlBraik et al, 2008 , Dha, 2011 , Ibrahim et al, 2019 , Muttappallymyalil et al, 2013 , Sridhar et al, 2017 ). Before the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have estimated the prevalence of DDS use to be between 35% and 39% in the UAE ( Abdulla et al, 2019b , Alhomoud et al, 2016 , Radwan et al, 2019 ). The UAE is an ethnically diverse country where the practice and consumption of DDS may vary widely among its population groups.…”

An exploration of individual knowledge and behavior for utilizing OTC drugs and dietary supplements for health enhancement: An empirical analysis from Dubai

“…In recent years, over-the-counter (OTC) or non-prescribed medications and health supplements are widely available for citizens worldwide including in the Emirate of Dubai (United Arab Emirates; UAE). 1 Consumers usually use OTC drugs and supplements without having prior knowledge about the dosage, drug-drug interactions, and contraindications. While this inappropriate use of OTC drugs and dietary supplements can increase the chances of potential side effects and may harm human health.…”