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Herbal Supplement Use by Persons Aged Over 50 years in Britain

Frequently Used Herbs, Concomitant Use of Herbs, Nutritional Supplements and Prescription Drugs, Rate of Informing Doctors and Potential for Negative Interactions

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Abstract

Background

The use of herbal and nutritional supplements by older British people is increasing and despite the risks of adverse effects and negative herb-drug interactions, doctors are often not informed of their use. The number of herbal and nutritional supplements used most frequently by older people, and which particular herbal extracts are used, are unknown. This study aimed to identify how many herbal and nutritional supplements and which herbal extracts are most frequently used by British people >50 years of age, and to identify which herb-drug interactions represent the greatest risk to this age group.

Method

A self-completed survey was promoted through websites and a popular magazine aimed at people >50 years of age.

Results

Respondents (n = 271) used a mean of 2.26 prescription drugs and 5.91 herbal and nutritional supplements, including 2.66 herbal extracts. The use of herbal medicines by older British people frequently involves the use of several herbs, often involves concomitant use with several nutritional supplements, is poorly reported to doctors and places older people at risk of negative herb-drug interactions. The most frequently used herbs and associated risks of negative interactions with prescription drugs are identified.

Conclusions

Older people should be encouraged to report the use of herbs and nutritional supplements to their doctors, and doctors should be provided with comprehensive and up-to-date information about potential herb-drug interactions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Chris McLaughlin and Saga Magazine for their kind assistance in carrying out this survey. No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this study. The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Peninsula Medical School, Complementary Medicine, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, 25 Victoria Park Rd, Exeter, EX2 4NT, UK

    Peter H. Canter & Edzard Ernst

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  1. Peter H. Canter
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  2. Edzard Ernst
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Correspondence to Peter H. Canter.

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Canter, P.H., Ernst, E. Herbal Supplement Use by Persons Aged Over 50 years in Britain. Drugs Aging 21, 597–605 (2004). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002512-200421090-00004

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00002512-200421090-00004

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