Suboptimal Health, Dietary Supplementation, and Public Health Approaches to Regulatory Challenges in Dubai

Abstract

Objectives: Presently, limited data are available on dietary supplements (DSs) and their associated effects on health status although the consumption of DS continues to expand. This study is aimed to explore the possible relationship between DSs consumption and suboptimal health status (SHS) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: This study was a cross-sectional research held among a sample of citizens and residents in the Emirate of Dubai in the UAE using a well-structured, self-administered, anonymous survey. Frequency tables, odds ratios, and confidence intervals were generated during the data analysis using SPSS version 23. Results: A total of 618 participants were enrolled in this study and fully completed the questionnaire. In this study, 317 participants (51.3%) (95% CI: 47.3%-55.3%) reported the use of DS products. A significant association between DS consumption and suboptimal health status was detected ( P < .001). DS consumers had a 1.5-fold increased odds of suboptimal health status when compared with non-DS consumers (95% CI 1.4-1.7). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest a need to develop policies and programs that will help minimize the risk of possible adverse events that are associated with the utilization of DSs.

Fish oil supplements, oxidative status, and compliance behaviour: Regulatory challenges and opportunities

“…As the dietary supplements market has become increasingly globalized and profitable, increasing levels of dietary supplements are now available to consumers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and people have ready access to unfamiliar supplements that can cause unexpected adverse effects. This has raised concerns among members of the healthcare community about the inherent safety of dietary supplements [28][29][30][31]. As yet, no UAE-based studies have explored these matters.…”

Risk Awareness and Demographic Characteristics Associated With the Use of Sexual Enhancement Supplements Among University Staff: A Cross-Sectional Study in the United Arab Emirates

“…A structured self-administered questionnaire was designed and adapted based on previous studies addressing SES use ( Cohen & Venhuis, 2013 ; Jairoun, Al-Hemyari, El-Dahiyat et al, 2020 ; Jairoun, Al-Hemyari, Shahwan et al, 2020 ). The aim was to cover all the key points of the study, with the questionnaire subsequently adapted to the local UAE population.…”

“…As the DS market has increasingly globally, and with the associated profitability, a greater emphasis is being placed on ensuring these supplements are of suitable quality. This is because there have been a rising number of cases in which users of DS have adverse reactions and even cases of death as a result of products containing contaminants ( Jairoun, Al-Hemyari, El-Dahiyat et al, 2020 ; Jairoun et al, 2020a , 2020b ). In addition, a rise in fraudulent claims with some of the DS potentially toxic ( Lordan, 2021 ).…”

“…With respect to UAE, the use of DSs appears widespread with 51.3% of respondents in a recent survey stating that they had at some point used a DS ( Jairoun, Al-Hemyari, El-Dahiyat et al, 2020 ). Personnel attending fitness centers in Dubai felt that sports nutrition had positive effects on exercise performance, and they believed that sports nutrition makes the users healthier ( Jairoun, Al-Hemyari, El-Dahiyat et al, 2020 ).…”

Development and Validation of a Tool to Improve Community Pharmacists’ Surveillance Role in the Safe Dispensing of Herbal Supplements

“…This may well require changes in culture as well as harmonized standards on key issues such as quality control as well as evidence standards across countries as their use grows (Geck et al, 2020;Xiong et al, 2021). The same issues are seen with the use of dietary supplements where again there can be both benefits and concerns (Khan et al, 2019;Jairoun et al, 2020a;Parks et al, 2020).…”