Survey for CRN: Supplement Users More Likely to Focus on a Pattern of Healthy Habits

12 June 2013 --- When it comes to making lifestyle choices, those who take dietary supplements seem to make healthier choices overall compared to those who do not take dietary supplements, according to the most recent CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements from Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN).

Consistent with years past, the survey found that more than two-thirds of U.S. adults, 68 percent, take dietary supplements, and those supplement users are more likely than non-supplement users to also engage in certain other healthy habits.

 “It’s clear that supplement users, for the most part, are not just popping pills in lieu of putting in the hard work it takes to be healthy, but instead are very health conscious and view their supplement use as one of the things they do to promote good health,” said Judy Blatman, senior vice president, communications, CRN. “There is no magic bullet for good health, and supplement users seem to understand the importance of combining, rather than isolating, healthy practices. It’s the total lifestyle that’s going to help you feel good and stay fit, and taking supplements are one piece of that lifestyle.”

Over three-quarters of all adults (77 percent) believe that taking supplements is a smart choice for a healthy lifestyle. When asked why they take supplements, 53 percent of supplement users said they took dietary supplements for overall health and wellness; 35 percent said it was to fill in nutrient gaps in their diet.
 
At 76 percent, the multivitamin was found to be the most popular dietary supplement among supplement users, according to the survey. This is also consistent with data from years past. “A daily multivitamin is beneficial for almost everyone, at any stage in life, playing an important role in filling nutrient gaps, and serving as an affordable and convenient insurance policy for getting valuable nutrients,” said Duffy MacKay, N.D., vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, CRN. “Engage your doctor, nurse practitioner, pharmacist or other healthcare practitioner about which supplements fit your personal lifestyle and life stage.”

The 2012 CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements was conducted August 27-31, 2012 by Ipsos Public Affairs and funded by CRN. The survey was conducted on-line and included a national sample of 2,006 adults aged 18 and older from Ipsos’ U.S. on-line panel. The survey has been conducted annually since 2000. Weighting was employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the U.S. adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size would have an estimated margin of error of +/- 2.2 percentage points.