Beliefs about and usage of vitamin/mineral supplements by elderly participants of rural congregate meal programs in central Iowa
Oakland, M.J.; Thomsen, P.A.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association 90(5): 715-716
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-8223 PMID: 2335688 Document Number: 361267
A questionnaire on use of and beliefs about vitamin/mineral supplements was given to 24 men on average 73.7 years old and 78 women on average 74.8 years old living in central Iowa, USA. About half of the elderly regularly used vitamin/mineral supplements and the rest had not used supplements within the past 6 months. Types and amounts of supplements taken were evaluated and usage was classified as appropriate [use of a multivitamin/mineral supplement at 150% or less of the USA recommended daily allowance (RDA)] or inappropriate (combined supplements in amounts greater than 150% of the RDA or 3 or more individual supplements not prescribed by a physician). Of the 10 men who took supplements 6 were rated as making appropriate and 4 inappropriate use of them. Corresponding numbers for women were 25 and 17. Subjects who used supplements had more misperceptions about supplements than had those who did not use them.