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Determinants of taking dietary supplements in Iranian children and adolescents: the CASPIAN-V study

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Abstract

Aim

Tendency for taking dietary supplements is dramatically increasing. However, limited studies exist in this regard. We aimed to assess the frequency and determinants of dietary supplement use among a nationally-representative sample of Iranian children and adolescents.

Methods

This population-based cross-sectional study (the CASPIAN V) was conducted in students aged 7 to 18 years old in 2015. Multistage, stratified cluster sampling method was used to select participants from thirty provinces in Iran. Data regarding taking vitamin and mineral supplements were collected. Demographic information, anthropometric indices, physical activity, screen time and body image were also evaluated. Multivariate logistic regression model was used for analyses.

Results

The prevalence of dietary supplements use was 34.1% and the most popular dietary supplement was Iron (12.9%). Multivariate logistic regression showed that boys (0.84, 95%CI: 0.78, 0.91) and body image perception (OR: 0.84, 95%CI: 0.75, 0.94) used less dietary supplements compared to others. Children aged 11 to 14 years (OR: 1.15, 95%CI: 1.06, 1.26) and those with moderate family socioeconomic status (OR: 1.12, 95%CI: 1.007, 1.25) used more supplement compared to other groups. Moreover, those with higher paternal educational level (OR: 0.77, 95%CI: 0.64, 0.93) used less supplements. However, living area, family size, paternal occupation, children BMI, Intended weight loss, and body image by student did not indicate any significant association.

Conclusion

Our findings indicated that about one-third of Iranian children and adolescents used dietary supplements; iron supplements were the most frequent ones. Children aged 11 to 14 years, those with higher educated mothers and moderate family socioeconomic status used more supplements compared to others. However, boys, children with excess weight and those with high-educated parents used less supplements compared to others. More studies are needed to clarify the efficacy and safety of dietary supplements in different age groups in various societies.

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Data availability

The dataset supporting the conclusions of this article will not be shared publicly, to ensure participants’ privacy.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful of the team working on this national project and all participants who cooperated with this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chronic Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Nazli Namazi

  2. Child Department of Pediatrics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Roya Kelishadi

  3. Diabetes Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Ramin Heshmat & Maryam Sanaei

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

    Mohammad Esmaeil Motlagh

  5. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Gita Shafiee

  6. Office of Health and Fitness, Ministry of Education, Tehran, Iran

    Hasan Ziaodini

  7. Student Research Committee, School of Paramedical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Shagayegh Beshtar

  8. Bureau of Population, Family and School Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran

    Majzoubeh Taheri & Tahereh Aminaee

  9. Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

    Mostafa Qorbani

  10. Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular -Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mostafa Qorbani

  11. Shahid Behshti University of Medical Sciences, Shohada Tajrish Hospital, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Karim Shahrzad

Authors
  1. Nazli Namazi
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  2. Roya Kelishadi
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  3. Ramin Heshmat
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  4. Mohammad Esmaeil Motlagh
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  6. Gita Shafiee
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  7. Hasan Ziaodini
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  8. Shagayegh Beshtar
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  9. Majzoubeh Taheri
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  10. Tahereh Aminaee
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  11. Mostafa Qorbani
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  12. Mohammad Karim Shahrzad
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Mostafa Qorbani or Mohammad Karim Shahrzad.

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Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the Research and Ethics Council of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.

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Namazi, N., Kelishadi, R., Heshmat, R. et al. Determinants of taking dietary supplements in Iranian children and adolescents: the CASPIAN-V study. J Diabetes Metab Disord 18, 409–417 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-019-00432-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-019-00432-z

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