Prevalence of Vitamin Supplements Usage Among Private University Students in Iraq

Abstract

Products that intended to supplement the diet and contain one or more of the following ingredients (mineral, vitamin, herb, or amino acid) is defined as dietary supplements. Most people all over the world have micronutrition deficiency. Vitamin supplements used not only by patients but also by healthy population in all ages and in different regions of the world. Aim of study: This study is conducted to explore the prevalence of vitamin supplements use among students in Al-Bayan university. Also, to identify the reasons to use the supplements, the specific type used, the source of participant’s information about the supplements, and their beliefs. Method: Descriptive cross- sectional study was carried out on (353) medical students in Al-Bayan University during September 2021.Students were asked to participate in this study by using electrical questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of vitamin supplements use among students was (76.5%), multivitamins are the more frequently used (44.8%) followed by vitamin C (22.8%). The main reason for consuming supplements was to enhance their immunity (28.2%) and to maintain good health (23.1%) and majority of them (66.2%) used the supplements according to doctor’s and pharmacist’s advice. It is concluded that there is a high prevalence of vitamin supplement use among medical students, there was a relation between gender and vitamin consumption. The most frequent used vitamins were multivitamins. Vitamin supplements are consumed to boost immunity especially during COVID-19 pandemic and to maintain good health.