Assessing Dietary Supplement Use, Health Status Perception, and Mediterranean Diet Adherence Among Young Adults: A Cross-sectional Study
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Abstract
Introduction: Dietary supplement (DS) consumption has significantly increased, particularly post-COVID-19. However, the prevalence and determinants of DS intake among university students in Perak, Malaysia, remain underexplored. This study aimed to assess DS consumption, alongside knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP), and its association with perceived health status and Mediterranean diet adherence. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Perak Campus. A validated questionnaire collected data on DS consumption patterns. Chi-square tests were used to examine differences between DS users and non-users across categorical sociodemographic variables. Logistic regression identified predictors of DS use, including knowledge, awareness of the Mediterranean diet, and perceived health status. Results: Among 278 respondents (25.9% male, 74.1% female), 38.8% reported DS use, with Vitamin C, fish oil, and Vitamin B complex being the most consumed. Poor knowledge (44.2%) and negative attitudes (61.2%) towards DS were common, regardless of usage. High-risk behaviours were exhibited by 50.9% of users. Significant associations were found between DS consumption and knowledge (p= 0.003) as well as Mediterranean diet awareness (p= 0.016), though no associations with gender, attitude, year of study, or education level were observed. Conclusion: Educational interventions are necessary to improve students' knowledge and awareness of DS, promoting safer consumption practices. Despite some awareness, the prevalence of high-risk behaviours highlights the need for professional guidance and monitoring.
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