Jahan Ishrat, Uddin Abul Bashar Mohammad Neshar, Reza A S M Ali, Uddin Md Giash, Hossain Mohammad Shahadat, Nasrin Mst Samima, Emran Talha Bin, Rahman Md Atiar
Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, Kumira, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
PLoS One. 2021 Apr 9;16(4):e0249897. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249897. eCollection 2021.
Dietary supplements (DS) are products that improve the overall health and well-being of individuals and reduce the risk of disease. Evidence indicates a rising prevalence of the use of these products worldwide especially among the age group 18-23 years.
The study investigates the tendencies and attitudes of Bangladeshi undergraduate female students towards dietary supplements (DS).
A three-month (March 2018-May 2018) cross-sectional face-to-face survey was conducted in undergraduate female students in Chittagong, Bangladesh using a pre-validated dietary supplement questionnaire. The study was carried among the four private and three public university students of different disciplines in Chittagong to record their prevalent opinions and attitudes toward using DS. The results were documented and analyzed by SPSS version 22.0.
Ninety two percent (N = 925, 92.0%) of the respondents answered the survey questions. The prevalence of DS use was high in undergraduate female students. The respondents cited general health and well-being (n = 102, 11.0%) and physician recommendation (n = 101, 10.9%) as a reason for DS use. Majority of the students (n = 817, 88.3%) used DS cost monthly between USD 0.12 and USD 5.90. Most of the students (n = 749, 81.0%) agreed on the beneficial effect of DS and a significant portion (n = 493, 53.3%) recommended for a regular use of DS. Highly prevalent use of dietary supplements appeared in Chittagonian undergraduate female students. They were tremendously positive in using DS. The results demonstrate an increasing trend of using DS by the undergraduate females for both nutritional improvement and amelioration from diseases.
Dietary supplements prevalence was so much higher in students of private universities as compared to students of public universities. Likewise, maximal prevalence is indicated in pharmacy department compared to other departments. Students preferred brand products, had positive opinions and attitudes towards dietary supplements.
膳食补充剂是能够改善个人整体健康状况、提升幸福感并降低疾病风险的产品。有证据表明，这类产品在全球的使用普及率正在上升，尤其是在18至23岁的年龄组中。
本研究调查孟加拉国本科女学生对膳食补充剂的倾向和态度。
2018年3月至2018年5月，在孟加拉国吉大港的本科女学生中进行了为期三个月的横断面面对面调查，使用预先验证过的膳食补充剂问卷。该研究在吉大港四所私立大学和三所公立大学不同学科的学生中开展，以记录她们对使用膳食补充剂的普遍看法和态度。结果由SPSS 22.0版本记录并分析。
92%（N = 925，92.0%）的受访者回答了调查问卷。本科女学生中膳食补充剂的使用率很高。受访者将总体健康和幸福感（n = 102，11.0%）以及医生建议（n = 101，10.9%）作为使用膳食补充剂的原因。大多数学生（n = 817，88.3%）每月使用膳食补充剂的花费在0.12美元至5.90美元之间。大多数学生（n = 749，81.0%）认同膳食补充剂的有益效果，并且很大一部分（n = 493，53.3%）建议经常使用膳食补充剂。膳食补充剂在吉大港本科女学生中的使用率非常高。她们对使用膳食补充剂极为积极。结果表明，本科女生使用膳食补充剂以改善营养和缓解疾病的趋势在增加。
与公立大学的学生相比，私立大学学生中膳食补充剂的普及率要高得多。同样，与其他系相比，药学系的普及率最高。学生更喜欢品牌产品，对膳食补充剂持积极的看法和态度。
