Military Nutrition Division, United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), Natick, MA 01760, USA.
Samueli Institute, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA; Abt Associates, Inc., Durham, NC 27703, USA; Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
Clin Nutr. 2015 Oct;34(5):976-85. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2014.10.010. Epub 2014 Nov 7.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Dietary supplements (DS) are popular in many countries but little data are available on their use by sub-populations such as college students. Since students share a variety of characteristics and similar lifestyles, their DS use may differ from the general population. This study assessed DS use, factors associated with DS use, and reasons for use among U.S. college students.
College students (N = 1248) at 5 U.S. universities were surveyed. Survey questions included descriptive demographics, types and frequency of DS used, reasons for use and money spent on supplements. Supplements were classified using standard criteria. Logistic regression analyses examined relationships between demographic and lifestyle factors and DS use.
Sixty-six percent of college students surveyed used DS at least once a week, while 12% consumed 5 or more supplements a week. Forty-two percent used multivitamins/multiminerals, 18% vitamin C, 17% protein/amino acids and 13% calcium at least once a week. Factors associated with supplement use included dietary patterns, exercise, and tobacco use. Students used supplements to promote general health (73%), provide more energy (29%), increase muscle strength (20%), and enhance performance (19%).
College students appear more likely to use DS than the general population and many use multiple types of supplements weekly. Habits established at a young age persist throughout life. Therefore, longitudinal research should be conducted to determine whether patterns of DS use established early in adulthood are maintained throughout life. Adequate scientific justification for widespread use of DS in healthy, young populations is lacking.
膳食补充剂（DS）在许多国家都很受欢迎，但关于其在大学生等亚人群中的使用情况的数据却很少。由于学生具有多种共同特征和相似的生活方式，他们对 DS 的使用可能与一般人群有所不同。本研究评估了美国大学生 DS 的使用情况、与 DS 使用相关的因素以及使用原因。
对美国 5 所大学的 1248 名大学生进行了调查。调查问题包括描述性人口统计学、使用的 DS 类型和频率、使用原因以及在补充剂上的花费。使用标准标准对补充剂进行分类。逻辑回归分析考察了人口统计学和生活方式因素与 DS 使用之间的关系。
接受调查的大学生中，有 66%的人每周至少使用一次 DS，而 12%的人每周使用 5 种或更多种补充剂。每周至少使用一次复合维生素/矿物质的占 42%，维生素 C 的占 18%，蛋白质/氨基酸的占 17%，钙的占 13%。与补充剂使用相关的因素包括饮食模式、运动和吸烟。学生使用补充剂的原因包括促进整体健康（73%）、提供更多能量（29%）、增强肌肉力量（20%）和提高表现（19%）。
大学生似乎比一般人群更有可能使用 DS，而且许多人每周使用多种类型的补充剂。年轻时养成的习惯会持续一生。因此，应该进行纵向研究，以确定成年早期开始的 DS 使用模式是否会持续一生。对于在健康的年轻人群中广泛使用 DS，缺乏充分的科学依据。
