Use of nutritional supplements in an ambulatory elderly population

The use of nutritional supplements by 3,192 ambulatory elderly participants in a health screening program is described. The 2,009 women used vitamin (45.5 per cent) and mineral (22.4 per cent) products with significantly greater frequencies than did the 1,183 men (34.0 per cent and 15.0 per cent, respectively); chi-square, P less than 0.01. The most commonly used vitamin products were multiple vitamins, multiple vitamins with minerals, vitamin E, and vitamin C; for minerals, the ranking was potassium chloride, calcium salts, and ferrous sulfate. Eighty-two participants (2.5 per cent) reported the use of four or more supplements. Many older Americans are spending a great deal of money for nutritional supplements, whereas it would seem that the money could be better spent to improve the quality of their diet.