Prepandemic prevalence of dietary supplement use for immune benefits

JAMA Network Open

2025-02-11

(Press-News.org) About The Study: This study has 3 findings in a prepandemic context. First, approximately 1 in 9 U.S. residents used a dietary supplement for perceived immune benefits (supplements to prevent colds or boost the immune system), and such usage varied by several sociodemographic and health characteristics. Second, label claims related to immune benefits consistently appeared on over half of dietary supplements taken for perceived immune benefits. Lastly, the prevalence of dietary supplement use for perceived immune benefits due to a doctor recommendation and dietary supplement use exclusively for perceived immune benefits were both generally low, but both increased among older adults and individuals in poorer health.

Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Jaime J. Gahche, PhD, MPH, email jaime.gahche@nih.gov.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.59291)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

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About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is an online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. On weekdays, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication.

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Prepandemic prevalence of dietary supplement use for immune benefits

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