Abstract
Background: In recent years, there has been increased consumption of vitamin and mineral supplements in industrialized nations. At the same time, there has been growing attention to the potential role of vitamin and mineral supplements in augmenting total nutrient intake, improving health and ameliorating disease risk. Aim: The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence, reasons, sources of advice of vitamin-mineral supplements use, and the relationship between vitamin-mineral supplement use with selected demographic and lifestyle characteristics among University of Tripoli students. Methods Our survey was conducted at University of Tripoli, Tripoli - Libya in a period between April and October 2009. The study sample included 321 students from five different colleges; the students aged 17-27 years. A questionnaire with questions about demographic and lifestyle characteristics as well as the use of vitamin-mineral supplements was filled by the students. Results: The prevalence of vitamin-mineral supplement use was 47.8% (females 50.2%, and males 42.1%). The vitamin-mineral supplement use was associated with some demographic and lifestyle characteristics. Statistically monthly income, body mass index, smoking and physical activity was not different (p<0.05) influence vitamin-mineral supplements use among university students. The most frequently used supplements were vitamin C (25%), iron (19%), and multivitamins (15.9%). The main reasons for using the supplements were to improve the overall health and well-being (31.6%), enhance physical appearance (26.4%), and to treat disease (24.7%). Physician (45.9%) and previous supplement users (23.9%) were the main sources of information on the need for supplementation. Conclusion: Supplement users were more likely to be females, non-smokers, physically active, and with higher family monthly income. Because of the concerns that some consumers of supplements may exceed the Upper Tolerable Limit and because many of the vitamin-mineral supplements are available as over-counter products, therefore the pharmacists must have a responsibility to assume an active found that vitamin/mineral deficiency is linked to many chronic and micronutrient deficiency diseases, the use of vitamin-mineral supplements must not be a replacement for good eating habits and healthy lifestyle.