Datamonitor Report Predicts European Supplement Sales Growth

NEW YORK--Consumers are increasingly self-treating health conditions, driving sales growth of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and supplements, according to Datamonitor's new report, Self-medication. According to the new report, trends over recent years have shown consumers are taking more responsibility for their own health. As a result, Datamonitor predicted the European OTC market will grow at a rate of 2.5 percent per year until 2006, while sales of vitamins, minerals and supplements will average 3.2 percent growth per year.

"The most significant barrier to the wider acceptance and use of complementary medicine is a general lack of information," according to Datamonitor (www.datamonitor.com). "There are some gender differences here: Men tend to trust conventional medicine and largely want symptomatic relief, whereas women are far less trusting of the pharmaceutical industry and desire more holistic solutions."

Regardless of these gender differences, Datamonitor noted the majority of respondents (of both sexes) reported they would accept a recommendation from a friend, local doctor or a recognized, independent body. Datamonitor predicted opportunity lies with "products that actively contribute to the curative process and those non-medical products such as comfort foods consumers feel they should have when ill."