Abstract
Abstract Dietary supplement (DS) use epitomizes an important source of well-balanced diet. This diet is essential for the maintenance of general health and chronic disease avoidance. Dietary supplements have developed in many countries, and their use among medical students is growing worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and usage patterns of DS among medical students in University of Tripoli, Tripoli-Libya. The data were collected through an online Google form among students at Tripoli University- Faculty of medicine and surgery on the year of 2024 end using paper-based questionnaires. A total of 84 students completed a questionnaire consisting of three measures; Sociodemographic characteristics, the prevalence of dietary supplement use, and the awareness about the use of these supplements. Through the results, we find that the study surveyed a group of students (predominantly female, N=66 vs. N=18 males). Moreover, the majority of participants were single and the most were aged 23-25; the mainly had a normal BMI (65.5%) and was non-smokers (97.6%). Also, this survey exhibited that the prevalence of supplement use was very high; only (2.4%) of students reported never using them. As well, there is a notable gap between the students’ belief in supplements and their actual knowledge. In conclusion, Dietary supplement use is highly prevalent among Libyan medical students, driven mainly by perceived health benefits and fatigue management.