The survey was conducted by the Prevention magazine market research division and was developed with technical assistance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Survey data came from telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults living in telephone households in the continental United States. Interviews were conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates, Inc., during the period from April 27 to May 16, 1999. The margin of error, due to sampling and other random effects, is plus or minus 2 percentage points for results based on the total sample.

Self-Care Movement Responsible for Increased Interest in Dietary

Supplements

The survey revealed that an aging population and an increased sense of alienation from the health-care system are causing an increased desire for self-care. An estimated 158 million consumers use dietary supplements because these products help them attain their self-care goals.

An estimated 22.8 million consumers use herbal remedies instead of prescription medicine, and an estimated 19.6 million use them with a prescription product. Similarly, an estimated 30.3 million use herbals instead of an over-the-counter drug (OTC), while approximately 19 million use herbals and OTC's together.

Public Health Problem Possible

The risks inherent both in mixing dietary supplements with prescription and OTC products and in treating oneself without a doctor's supervision are very real. Already, an estimated 11.9 million consumers have experienced adverse reactions from using herbal remedies, and 6.5 million have had problems of this kind when using specialty supplements.

High Usage-Low Confidence

"This survey uncovered the great paradox of dietary supplement use," said Ed Slaughter, director of market research at Prevention magazine and Rodale Inc. "Although millions of consumers use these products, many think the products are not totally safe and that the label information is not totally accurate."

Survey findings showed that less than half (41%) of consumers think vitamin and mineral supplements are very safe and only about one-quarter (24%) have this perception of herbal remedies. As a result, the public expresses widespread support for increased government involvement to ensure that dietary supplements are safe and will do what they claim.

This survey builds on an ongoing body of research conducted by Prevention magazine, America's leading health magazine and the 14th largest magazine in the nation, and its parent company, Rodale Inc., which provides a broad-based understanding of preventive health and self-care in the United States. The research projects solely funded by Prevention magazine include the 3rd annual Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) survey examining consumers' reactions to DTC advertising (conducted with technical assistance from the FDA); the 8th annual Shopping for Health Survey (with The Food Marketing Institute), which examined food shoppers' attitudes about nutrition and its effect on food purchases; and the Consumer Use of OTC's Survey (with the American Pharmaceutical Association) examining how consumers select and purchase OTC medications.

CONTACT: Jeff Vaughan of Prevention Magazine, 610-967-7626