Knowledge, attitudes and use of dietary supplement among students of the University of Nis (Serbia)

Introduction. Dietary supplements, being concentrated sources of vitamins, minerals and other substances with nutritional and physiological effects, are products that supplement the normal diet. The aim of this study was to determine the use, attitudes and knowledge on dietary supplements among students of the University of Nis, paying special attention to differences in responses between male and female students. Material and Methods. The study used the original questionnaire which was distributed to 330 students from the University of Nis. The sample was stratified by school, year of study and sex. Out of 330 questionnaires, 301 were classified as correct and they were further analyzed. Results. Dietary supplements were used by 68.10% of the respondents. Females used dietary supplements more than males. Two or more products were most commonly used. Multivitamins were the most widely used products. The majority of respondents adhered to the declaration (77.07%). A small number had health damage (2.93%). More than half of the students stated that they were not properly informed about dietary supplements. The most common source of information was the media and friends. Conclusion. Health professionals and users of dietary supplements should be educated better on the use of these products in order to make the supplement use safe, controlled and rational.