Habits and beliefs of young people about dietary supplements: are there differences between countries?

Introduction. Recently dietary supplements (DS) have contributed substantially to human health, and the COVID-19 pandemic could further increase the market. Researchers extensively discuss not only the benefits of DS but also the potential negative effects. Often young people do not have enough information about the effects of supplements on the body. Research aim. To evaluate the habits and beliefs related to DS among young people in Lithuania and Cyprus. Methodology. A quantitative online survey was performed, using a validated questionnaire consistent with Sirico et al. (2018) with minor modifications. The data were collected through Google forms from December 2020 to May 2021. A total of 504 young people from Lithuania (n = 261) and Cyprus (n = 243) participated in the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0. A Cronbach's alpha test was used to check the questionnaire's reliability. The distributions of the data were tested for normality by Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. All data variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. The difference among countries was checked using crosstabs, chi-square, Fisher test, and one-way ANOVA; p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. The DS was taken or had been taken in the past by 58% of young people surveyed. The prevalence of DS use was higher among Lithuanians (61.7%), compared to the Cypriots (53.1%). In most cases, supplements were used by their initiative (17.3%) and 8.5% were recommended by a physician or pharmacist. About twenty one percent of all users experienced side effects, which were more common among the Cypriots (F=28.31; p<0.05). Lithuanians more often noted that DS were necessary at all ages (F=18.77; p<0.05), were harmless (F =14.58; p<0.05), and could prevent the development of cancer (F=36.02; p<0.05) or chronic diseases (F=17.52; p<0.05). Conclusion. The study showed that the prevalence of DS was slightly higher among Lithuanians. The majority of young people in both countries used DS on their initiative, and a significant proportion experienced side effects. Therefore, they should consult medical specialists before the use of DS about health effects and possible adverse reactions in each case.