Supplement use in China could ease the double burden of malnutrition, researchers note

14 Nov 2018 --- Despite the Chinese population displaying deficiencies in some key nutrients, such as vitamin B2 and calcium, research has shown that the use of nutritional supplements is relatively low. The involved researchers suggest that adequate supplementation could help to ease the double burden of malnutrition facing the country. 

Despite high rates of supplement use documented in other countries, not enough is known on the prevalence among the Chinese population, the researchers note. However, it is hoped that the findings of their study, of nearly 75,000 Chinese children and adults between the years of 2010 and 2012, could aid public health interventions.

The findings from 2010–2012 China Nutrition and Health Surveillance showed that 97 percent of the Chinese population had the risk of inadequate dietary calcium intake, followed by vitamin B2 (90 percent), vitamin B1 (78 percent), vitamin A (77 percent), vitamin C (68 percent), zinc (34 percent), and iron (11 percent). Nutritional supplementation is a crucial way for people to reach healthy dietary nutrition levels, the researchers note.

This study aimed to describe the prevalence of the nutrient supplement use among the Chinese population aged six years or older from 2010 to 2012.

A stratified multistage cluster sampling method was used to recruit participants from 150 surveillance sites. A total of 74,501 children and adults were included in the study.

Some key takeaways from the study were that less than one percent, 0.71 percent, of participants reported using supplements within the last month.

Age proved important, with the most frequent supplement users aged 60 years and above, followed by participants aged between 6 and 11.

More females used supplements than males and supplement use was higher among urban, rather than rural, residents.

Education also played a role, with participants with college or above education level having the highest supplement use proportion compared to their counterparts.

Income levels also modified supplement use, with the study finding that use increased with family annual average income per capita.

Participant knowledge of a health problem was also influential, as the proportion was highest amongst the participants with a problem, whereas the participants who did not know their health conditions were the least likely to supplement.

Iodine was the highest nutrient supplemented by the population, followed by vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin C and zinc.

Why could the rate be so low?
This study provides the first detailed information on supplement use based on a broad, nationally representative surveillance among the Chinese population, according to the researchers. Generally, use of supplements is low compared in China to other developed countries. In the US, the rate of use stood at 52 percent from 2010 to 2012.

The researchers note in the study that, in China, nutritional supplements are not recommended for the general population and getting adequate and a variety of natural nutrients from the diet is given priority in the Dietary Guidelines.

Moreover, knowledge about supplementation has only recently become known, which could also account for the lower rates, they add.

The researchers suggest that government regulators and the scientific community should strengthen the regulation of the supplement industry as well as marketing to guide consumers to use them correctly. Further, supplement related information should be widely publicized by various publicity channels such as newspapers, television and social media.

Considering the important role of nutritional supplements in the improvement of nutrition status and the maintenance of health, supplement use should be promoted appropriately, especially for the Chinese population which experiences such a double burden of nutrition, the researchers say.

However, it must be noted that this study is based on findings from the years 2010 and 2012, and since this time, substantial changes could have occurred. NutritionInsight has reached out to the researchers for further information.

By Laxmi Haigh