Dietary Supplement Users Engage in Healthy Habits

A newly published review in Nutritional Journal, a peer-reviewed scientific publication, stated that dietary supplement users take those products as one component of a larger effort to develop a healthier lifestyle. The review, Health Habits and Other Characteristics of Supplement Users" (Nutrition Journal.2014, 13:14), co-authored by Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) consultant Annette Dickinson, Ph.D., and CRNs senior vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, Duffy MacKay, N.D., examined data from 20 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and found that, overall, the evidence suggests that users of dietary supplements are seeking wellness and are consciously adopting a variety of lifestyle habits that they consider to contribute to healthy living."

Compiling the available data on the health habits of dietary supplement users, we gained a sharper insight into the positive lifestyle choices of this large segmentone half to two-thirdsof the American population that takes supplements," Dickinson said. Evidence from numerous surveys shows that dietary supplement users are more likely than non-users to adopt a number of positive health-related habits such as consuming healthier diets, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy body weight, and avoiding tobacco products."

The review suggested that Americans who take dietary supplements are focused on long-term wellness. This counters the concerns that supplement users are relying on a supplement alone to achieve good health and not living a healthy lifestyle, otherwise. The review indicates that supplement users are making better food choices in addition to taking supplements.

Its important to give dietary supplement users credit for their efforts to improve their overall wellness profile with thoughtful choices," MacKay said.  The scientific evidence indicates that they tend to incorporate these products into their lifestyles as part of a broader focus on healthy living, with supplement use just one of a constellation of smart, healthy habits."