US dietary supplement usage at an all-time high, says CRN survey

20 Oct 2017 --- Supplement usage among US adults is currently at an all-time high, with 76 percent reporting they consume dietary supplements, up five percentage points from last year’s results, according to the latest findings of the 2017 CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements.

The survey also found that nearly nine in ten (87 percent) US adults have confidence in the safety, quality and effectiveness of dietary supplements overall. Additionally, 76 percent of US adults perceive the dietary supplement industry as trustworthy, up three percentage points from last year. 

The survey was commissioned by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs.

“These findings reinforce the upward trend in usage and confidence seen last year,” says Nancy Weindruch, Vice President, Communications, CRN. “Seeing more than three quarters of Americans taking supplements is an indicator of our industry’s success in bringing products to the marketplace that are valued by the majority of Americans for their role in health and wellness.”

In terms of the types of supplements being taken, the survey found that vitamins and minerals are the most commonly consumed supplement category, consistent with the previous surveys, with 75 percent of US adults saying they have taken these in the past twelve months. The second most popular category is specialty supplements (38 percent), followed by herbals and botanicals (29 percent), sports nutrition supplements (22 percent) and weight management supplements (15 percent).

Overall health and wellness benefits are the main reason cited by supplement users for taking dietary supplements (46 percent). Three in ten (30 percent) consume supplements to fill nutrient gaps in their diets and similar proportions (28 percent) use them for energy. Of those who do not take dietary supplements, nearly half (45 percent) say they might consider taking supplements in the future if a doctor recommended it to them. 

In its 18th consecutive year, the CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements serves as the leading resource for statistics on usage of, and confidence in, dietary supplements. The survey was conducted from August 24 to 28 by Ipsos Public Affairs and was funded by CRN. The survey was conducted online in English and included a national sample of 2,001 adults aged 18 and older living in the US, including 1,528 among those who are considered supplement users.