New sources of information and its impact on the knowledge of university students on the use of vitamins and dietary supplements

  • Paloma Matiazzo Lupianes Estudante do 6º. ano de Medicina da Universidade Positivo (UP)
  • Anne Twardowsky Di Donato Estudante do 6º. ano de Medicina da Universidade Positivo (UP)
  • Patrí­cia Rigon Vasconcellos de Souza Estudante do 6º. ano de Medicina da Universidade Positivo (UP)
  • Pedro Henrique Pedruzzi Segato Estudante do 6º. ano de Medicina da Universidade Positivo (UP)
  • Veruska Peron Estudante do 6º. ano de Medicina da Universidade Positivo (UP)
  • Cristina Terumy Okamoto Doutora em Ciências da Saúde pela Pontí­ficia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUC-PR)- Curitiba-PR. Médica Pediatra com ênfase em Neonatologia. Atua na equipe de intensivistas do Hospital Infantil Pequeno Prí­ncipe, Hospital do Trabalhador e Hospital e maternidade Santa Brí­gida- Curitiba-PR. Professora da graduação do Curso de Medicina da UP
  • Eliane Mara Cesário Pereira Maluf Doutora em Medicina Interna pela Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR)- Curitiba-PR. Especialista em Pediatria pela Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Membro da Academia Paranaense de Pediatria. Trabalha no setor de Epidemiologia na Secretaria de Estado da Saúde Paraná- Curitiba-PR. Professora da graduação do Curso de Medicina da UP e da UFPR.
  • Renato Nisihara Laboratório de Imunopatologia Molecular do Hospital das Clênicas- UFPR, Professor da graduação do Curso de Medicina da UP e Faculdade Evangélica do Paraná (FEPAR)
Keywords: Dietary supplements, Nutrition, Students, Internet

Abstract

Introduction: The dissatisfaction of young people about their own bodies stimulates the search for products such as dietary supplements and vitamins, which may be a health hazard. Objective: To know the use frequency of these substances, what the participants know about the matter, evaluate which information sources are used and identify the main motivations of its use. Methodology: It has been performed a cross-sectional study with students of 9 different majors in a private university of Curitiba-PR. Were included 14 questions about knowledge and use of vitamins and dietary supplements. Discussion: Protein supplements were the most consumed, which is consistent with other studies. The abusive use of those substances may cause kidney injuries and favor oncogenesis. Results: The sample were composed by 1014 students, with a 541 (53.3%) male gender rate. From the total amount, 313 (31%) confirmed to use vitamins and/ or dietary supplements, with 101 (10%) using only vitamins, 134 (12%) only supplements and 78 (8%) using both. Most of the consumers of vitamins 94 (52.3%) and supplements 156 (73.8%) were taking the substances without medical indication. The internet was the most used source of information, with 774 (76%). The major motivations for the consumption of supplements and vitamins were to increase muscle strength (69.2%) and to increase immunity (58.7%). Conclusion: Among the interviewed students, 313 (31%) said to be taking vitamins and/or supplements, using mainly the internet as an information source. The major motivation was to increase muscle strength. Vitamin intake without medical indication was not followed by a proper knowledge of the matter, what may facilitate the occurrence of adverse effects.

Author Biography

Paloma Matiazzo Lupianes, Estudante do 6º. ano de Medicina da Universidade Positivo (UP)

Estudante de Medicina do 11 perí­odo da Universidade Positivo.

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Published
2016-05-22
How to Cite
Lupianes, P. M., Di Donato, A. T., de Souza, P. R. V., Segato, P. H. P., Peron, V., Okamoto, C. T., Maluf, E. M. C. P., & Nisihara, R. (2016). New sources of information and its impact on the knowledge of university students on the use of vitamins and dietary supplements. Brazilian Journal of Obesity, Nutrition and Weight Loss, 10(58), 189-198. Retrieved from https://www.rbone.com.br/index.php/rbone/article/view/442
Issue
Vol. 10 No. 58 (2016)
Section
Scientific Articles - Original

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