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Predictors of nutritional supplement use by the elderly
S L Gray1, J T Hanlon, G G Fillenbaum
1School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA.
Pharmacotherapy
|July 1, 1996
Summary
Nutritional supplement use is common among older adults, with 26.2% reporting use. Factors like being white, educated, and having health insurance predicted use more than health needs.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Nutritional supplement use is prevalent among community-dwelling elderly.
- Understanding predictors of supplement use is crucial for targeted health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe patterns of nutritional supplement and single-ingredient vitamin/mineral use among older adults.
- To identify demographic, health status, and healthcare access predictors of supplement use in this population.
Main Methods:
- A population survey of 3939 participants aged 65+ in North Carolina.
- Stratified random sampling and in-home interviews to collect data on supplement use.
- Multivariate analyses adjusted for sampling design to assess predictor associations.
Main Results:
- 26.2% of participants reported nutritional supplement use.
- Use was associated with being white, female, high school educated, underweight, taking prescriptions, frequent health visits, and having insurance.
- Single-ingredient supplement use was more likely in white, urban-raised, educated individuals with better functional status.
Conclusions:
- Nutritional supplement use is common in community-dwelling elderly.
- Demographic factors and healthcare access are stronger predictors than health need factors.
- Findings highlight the need for tailored public health strategies regarding supplement use in older adults.