Knowledge, awareness and practices regarding dietary supplements in Jordan

Abstract

Purpose: To investigative the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs pertaining to dietary supplements (DS) use in Jordan. Methods: Participants were enrolled from four main cities in Jordan, viz, Amman, Zarqa, Irbid, and Mafraq, to fill a self-administered questionnaire which explored the objectives of the study. Results: Most participants (80 %) knew what DS are. The prevalence of DS use was high (62.1 %) and significantly higher among females (p = 0.004). The most commonly consumed DS among users were in the form of multivitamins (93.0 %), vitamin D (65.8 %) and vitamin C (57.6 %). About half of the participants (46.2 %) believed that DS have no side effects. The most frequent source of information for participants about DS was from non-reliable references, such as social media. Self-prescription was the most common approach by DS users for supplement intake. Finally, the common hypothesis of associating healthy habits with DS use was not found to be true among Jordanians. Conclusion: These results highlight the need to implement appropriate awareness programs for the public regarding DS benefits and hazards, and especially to advise the public not to initiate DS use without first consulting an appropriate healthcare professional.