Summary of key findings
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Socio-economic status and vitamin/mineral supplement use in Canada
Publication: Health Reports 2010:21(4) www.statcan.gc.ca/healthreports
Authors: Hassanali Vatanparast, Jennifer L. Adolphe and Susan J. Whiting
Data: 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey – Nutrition
The link between diet quality and socio-economic status (SES) may extend to the use of vitamin/mineral supplements. This article examines factors related to Canadians' use of such supplements, with emphasis on associations with household income and education.
Supplement use by age and sex
Age was closely related to vitamin/mineral supplement use. Around 40% of children aged 1 to 8 took supplements. The percentage declined to less than 30% at ages 14 to 18 and then rose steadily to about 60% among women and 40% among men aged 51 or older.
Overall, the prevalence of vitamin/mineral supplement use was significantly higher among females than males: 47% versus 34%. The greatest gap was at ages 51 to 70.
Supplement use by income and education
Supplement use was generally more common among people in higher- than lower-income households. Supplement use also tended to rise with level of education.
Even when the effects of the othervariables were taken into account, theodds that people in the highest incomehouseholds would take supplements were1.6 times those of people in the lowestincome households, and people with atleast secondary graduation had 1.4 timesthe odds of taking supplements, comparedwith those who had not graduatedfrom secondary schoolFor more information about this article, contact Hassanali Vatanparast (1-306-966-6341; vatan.h@usask.ca), College of Pharmacy and Nutrition at the University of Saskatchewan.
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