Can you trust companies that sell supplements? Most Americans say “Yes.”
A yearly survey measuring how Americans feel about the safety, quality and effectiveness of supplements shows people view them as trustworthy and reliable.
The Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements found confidence at a two-year high of 85%. Ipsos Public affairs conducted the survey on behalf of the 2013 Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN).
The good-faith people have in companies that provide supplements and natural health products is encouraging, according to Judy Blatman, senior VP of Communications with CRN.
“The fact that confidence in dietary supplements remains high may be a testament to consumers’ understanding that the overwhelming majority of companies in this industry are dedicated to looking out for their customers, and manufacturing and marketing safe dietary supplement products that provide health benefits.”
However, Blatman also says that the natural health industry should keep striving to improve its track record by following the law and encouraging good manufacturing practices.
According to the recent survey, taking nutritional supplements is anything but out-of-the-ordinary. In fact, you might even call it “normal.”
The study found more than two-thirds of Americans (68%) say they take dietary supplements.
As with the 2012 survey, multi-vitamins are the most popular supplement among respondents, with more than half of U.S. adults (52%) saying they’ve taken one in the past year.
- View the Best Multivitamins at Natural Healthy Concepts
The second most popular supplement is Vitamin D with 20% of survey participants saying they’ve taken it in the past year. That’s followed closely by Omega-3/Fish oil (19%), Calcium (18%), and Vitamin C (17%).
While more women than men take dietary supplements – 72% compared to 64% – both genders appear to do so for the same reason. That would be overall health and wellness benefits, which was selected as the top reason by 54% of supplement users.
Two other top reason for taking supplements are filling nutrient gaps in diet and for heart health support.
This is the 14th year that CRN has conducted the survey. Blatman says it proves that people appreciate the impact supplements have on their health, and many Americans make them a part of their daily lives.
Our data has shown enormous consistency for the past 14 years, and there is no question that the majority of American adults value dietary supplements for their health.
Learn more about the consumer confidence in supplements at CRNUSA.org. Additional results from this study will be released in early 2014.