CDC: Half of U.S. adults take supplements

ATLANTA, April 13 (UPI) -- About half of U.S. adults say they used one or more dietary supplements from 2003 to 2006, officials say.

That is up from more than 40 percent from 1988 to 1994, Jaime Gahche and colleagues at the National Center for Health Statistics have learned.

Their study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics to monitor the health and nutritional status of the U.S. population.

Multivitamins/multi-minerals are the most commonly used dietary supplements, which about 40 percent of men and women report having used in the 2003-2006 period.

The study also says:

-- Among women age 60 and older, use of supplemental calcium increased from 28 percent from 1988 to 1994 to 61 percent during 2003 to 2006.

-- 34 percent of women ages 20-39 used a dietary supplement containing folic acid.

-- From 1999 to 2002, 38 percent of men age 60 and older say they took vitamin D, but they rose to 44 percent in 2003 to 2006, while for women age 60 and older 49.7 percent say they took vitamin D in 1999 to 2002 and they rose to 56.3 percent in 2003 to 2006.