Positive Health Online

Abstract

FRANK and colleagues, Departments of Family and Preventive Medicine and of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30303-3219, USA investigated the personal usage of vitamin-mineral supplements by US female physicians .

Background

The rates of vitamin-mineral supplement use by US female physicians are unknown but may be of interest for epidemiologic and clinical reasons.

Methodology

Data were used from the Women Physicians' Health Survey, a large, national, randomly sampled mail survey of female physicians (n=4501 ) aged 30 to 70 years.

Results

50% of female physicians took multivitamin-mineral supplements, and 35.5% did so regularly . Up to 33% took no supplements other than calcium; less than 20% took calcium supplements regularly. Regular vitamin-mineral supplement use increased with age . Antioxidant intake was higher in those at risk of heart disease . Female physicians with a history of osteoporosis were up to 3 times more likely than those without a history to take regular calcium supplements. Those who took any supplement regularly also consumed more fruit and vegetables daily and consumed less fat than did occasional supplement users or non-users. Vegetarians were more likely than non-vegetarians to regularly take supplements (60% versus 46%;). Those physicians who regularly consumed any supplement were also more likely to comply with US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines.

Conclusion

Female physicians, particularly those who were especially health conscious or who were at higher risk of heart disease or osteoporosis, used supplements at rates at least as high as those of women in the general population .

References

Frank E et al. Use of vitamin-mineral supplements by female physicians in the United States. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 72 (4): 969-75. Oct 2000.