CDC: Dietary Supplement Use Common in U.S. Children, Teens

FRIDAY, Oct. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Dietary supplement use is relatively common among children and adolescents, with 34 percent using any dietary supplement in the previous 30 days during 2017 to 2018, according to research published in the Oct. 30 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Bryan Stierman, M.D., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues used the most recently released data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 2017 to 2018 to estimate the prevalence of use of any dietary supplements, two or more dietary supplements, and specific dietary supplement product types among U.S. children and adolescents.

The researchers found that 34 percent of children and adolescents used any dietary supplement in the previous 30 days during 2017 to 2018, with no significant change from 2009 to 2010. From 2009-2010 to 2017-2018, use of two or more dietary supplements increased from 4.3 to 7.1 percent. The most commonly used products were multivitamin-mineral products, which were used by 23.8 percent of children and adolescents.

“Dietary supplement use is fairly prevalent among U.S. children and adolescents and contributes to overall total nutrient intake,” the authors write.

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