Sustained Shifts in Dietary Supplement Use Years After COVID-19: A Post-Pandemic Evaluation of Behaviors, Perceptions, and Predictors of Change in Jordan.

BACKGROUND

While numerous studies evaluated dietary supplement use during the acute phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence regarding health behavioral changes remains scarce, particularly in the Middle East. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of self-reported changes in dietary supplement consumption patterns before and years after the pandemic in Jordan, in a region where evidence on post-pandemic supplement use is limited.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jordan (from June to August 2025) among 427 participants, with pre-pandemic dietary supplement use assessed retrospectively through participant self-report. Wilcoxon signed-rank test and McNemar's test were used for paired analyses. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression was applied to identify predictors of changes in use.

RESULTS

Significant increases in the use of most dietary supplements were observed in the post-pandemic era (q < 0.05), with the exception of herbal supplements. Nearly half of the participants (49.2%) reported a sustained increase in dietary supplement use. Daily consumption rose sharply from 6.6% pre-pandemic to 31.4%, while non-use declined from 16.2% to 11.0% (p < 0.001). The perceived importance of supplements for ongoing health maintenance surged, with "very important" responses rising from 17.3% to 59.5% (p < 0.001). Heightened health awareness was the most frequently reported reason for maintaining or increasing intake (71.0%). Multivariable ordinal logistic regression showed that baseline pre-pandemic supplement-use frequency, recruitment mode and COVID-19 infection severity were significantly associated with changes in supplement consumption.

CONCLUSION

Changes in dietary supplement use in Jordan were observed after the pandemic, including a shift toward frequent and daily consumption. These findings suggest that changes in supplement-use behaviors remained evident in the post-pandemic period. The growing perceived value of dietary supplements underscores need for evidence-based public health guidance to promote safe and rational supplement use in the post-pandemic era.