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Nutritional Epidemiology (Poster Session)

(P13-050-24) Prevalence of Dietary Supplements Used for Perceived and Marketed Immune System Benefits, NHANES 2017-March 2020

Sunday, June 30, 2024
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM CT
Location: Poster Board 439
Disclosure(s):
Margaret A. Nagai-Singer, PhD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Edwina Wambogo, PhD, MPH, MS, RD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Jaime J. Gahche, PhD, MPH: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence of dietary supplement (DS) use for perceived immune system benefits and corresponding label claims of boosting immunity.

Methods: Using data from the 2017-March 2020 Pre-Pandemic National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (n=15,560 children and adults), we identified participants who reported using DS to “prevent colds and/or boost the immune system” (i.e., perceived immune system benefits). Labels of the DS used for perceived immune system benefits were checked for wording relevant to boosting immunity using the Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD). Percentages and standard errors were calculated and pairwise differences were examined using univariate t statistics and trends using linear regression models.

Results: Overall, the prevalence of DS use for perceived immune system benefits was 11.0% (SE 0.6). Prevalence was higher in adults than children (11.8%, SE 0.7 vs 8.5%, SE 0.5; p=0.0004). Within adults, prevalence increased with age, from 10.9% (SE 0.8) for ages 20-59 y to 14.1% (SE 1.1) for ages 60+ (p=0.0081). We also observed differences between children ages 0-11 y and ages 12-19 (9.7%, SE 0.5 vs 6.8% SE 0.7; p=0.0007). Prevalence of DS use for perceived immune system benefits increased with increasing food security (p=0.0063), family income (p=0.0002), educational attainment (p=0.0001), self-reported diet quality (p < 0.0001), and self-reported overall health (p=0.0011). For people who used DS for perceived immune system benefits, the most common additional motivations were to “prevent health problems” (31.8%, SE 1.9), “improve my overall health” (39.5%, SE 2.7), and “maintain health, to stay healthy” (40.0%, SE 1.8). Claims of immune system benefits appeared on at least 1 product label for 60.1% of people who took supplements for perceived immune system benefits.

Conclusions: Pre-pandemic, about 1 in 10 people reported using DS for immune health, the majority of whom used a product with an immune-related label claim. U.S. sales data show an increase in immune-related DS sold during the Covid-19 pandemic. The prevalence of DS use for perceived immune benefits warrants more research to understand these trends and the efficacy of supplements on immune health.

Funding Sources: None