Studying the knowledge, attitude and practice of students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences about dietary supplements and micronutrients

Abstract

The human body needs a wide range of micronutrients and macronutrients to function properly, which is the best way to get them in the form of a good diet. However, in some cases, a person may not be able to get enough of some micronutrients through their diet, in which case dietary supplements are considered as a source of many nutrients. The aim of this study was to determine the use of dietary supplements in students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and to determine their knowledge and attitudes about micronutrients. Materials & Methods: The present study was a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study on the target population of all students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 2020. After confirming the study by the ethics committee of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and obtaining the necessary permits, sampling was done randomly. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and a knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaire related to dietary supplements and micronutrients. Results: A total of 250 students with a mean age of 24.51 01 2.01 years were studied. The mean scores of correct knowledge and perceived knowledge of the subjects were 39.76 17 17.79 and 60.35 20 20.14%, respectively. The majority of respondents (38.8% and 48.8%, respectively) believed that dietary supplements were necessary for all ages and those health professionals should promote the use of supplements. The majority of respondents (77.2%) had recently taken a supplement, and most (52%) took the supplement occasionally. The most common reason for using the supplement (28.8%) was maintaining the health of the body. The most used supplement was multivitamin supplement (40.4%).