Food Supplements and Well-Being: A Pilot Investigation in the General Practitioner Office of the Veneto Region.

BACKGROUND

The use of food supplements (FS) is rapidly increasing, particularly in Italy, which leads the European market. This trend is driven by various factors, including the pursuit of physical well-being, the influence of advertising, and concerns about disease prevention. This exploratory pilot descriptive study aimed to characterize FS use among patients attending general practitioner (GP) offices and examine potential patterns with psychophysical well-being.

METHODS

Two questionnaires were administered to participants: one on FS use and another on physical and mental health (SF-12 questionnaire). General information and anthropometric characteristics were also collected.

RESULTS

230 questionnaires on FS use and 192 on psychophysical well-being were analyzed. The majority of participants (73.5%) reported using FS, primarily for general well-being (21.0%), immune system support (12.2%), and increased energy (11.4%). The most commonly consumed FS were vitamins (19.4%), minerals (16.9%), and probiotics (15.7%). Only 57.4% of patients reported informing their doctor about FS use, while 66.3% engaged in self-prescription. The SF-12 questionnaire revealed lower mental health scores (mood, energy, anxiety, and depression) in the studied population, while physical health remained unaffected. Importantly, no significant associations were observed between FS use and either physical or mental health scores, suggesting these patterns are independent of supplement consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

FS use is prevalent among patients attending GP offices. The observed decrease in mental health scores may indicate psychological distress though this pattern was not associated with FS consumption. Given the exploratory nature of this study, findings should be interpreted with caution. This study highlights the need for improved health education and professional training to promote safer and more informed FS use. Further research is required to expand upon these initial findings.