Dramatic Increase in Dietary Supplement Use During Covid-19

OBJECTIVES: When the SARS-CoV-2 Virus was seen in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019, people's interest in vitamin and mineral supplement use has increased all over the world. This study aims to investigate changes in supplement use during pandemic on Turkish people living in Asia, America, Europe and Turkey. METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey was carried out among total 1678 individuals (women, n = 1329 and men, n = 369, Asia n = 139, America n = 507, Europe n = 292 and Turkey n = 760) older than 18 years in January 2021. An online questionnaire was taken by the volunteered participants. In this study, individuals were asked about dietary supplement use before and after the pandemic, which dietary supplements they used in the pandemic process, and why they were used. RESULTS: Individual's dietary supplement use before and during the pandemic were Asia (29.5% and 71.9%), America (40.6% and 75.7%), Europe (30.8% and 68.7%), and Turkey (21.3% and 62.2%) respectively. Vitamin C (74.7%), Vitamin D (58.2%) and multi vitamins (34.2%), Zinc (19.7%), Fish oil (17.9%), Probiotics (13.4%), and Propolis (11.1%) are the most commonly used dietary supplements in all regions. Individuals stated that improving the immune system was the main reason to use dietary supplements (53%). Individuals use it as a result of the diagnosis of nutritional deficiency (14%). The maximum use of dietary supplements in all regions is in between the ages of 31–50. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that dietary supplement use increased during the pandemic in all regions. Although most of the individuals stated that they took supplements to strengthen the immune system, it is known that supplements do not prevent Covid-19. However, it has been stated that the use of vitamin D, C, Zinc and selenium supplements may be beneficial, especially in those with diagnosed nutritional deficiencies and those with upper respiratory tract infections. Healthy individuals should be made aware of supplements and usage conditions. FUNDING SOURCES: None