Research on Dietary Supplement Use by Japanese High School Students

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the availability of information on dietary supplements as well as their use among high school students in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It also aimed to clarify the relationship between dietary awareness and the use of dietary supplements. Methods The survey was conducted online using Google Forms and asked about sex, age, height, weight, experience with supplements (current use, past use, or never used any use), types of supplements used, sources of information about supplements, and eating habits. The survey was conducted in high schools in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, in September 2020. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Niigata University of Health and Welfare. Statistical analysis was conducted using R version 4.0.2 (2020–06-22), and comparisons between the two groups were made using the t test or χ² test with a significance level of 5%. Results A total of 317 subjects were analyzed, including 151 (47.6%) boys and 166 (52.4%) girls. Thirty-seven boys and 21 girls currently used supplements, while 32 boys and 29 girls used supplements in the past. The percentage of boys using supplements (currently or in the past) was 45.6%, which was significantly higher than that of girls (30.1%) (P = 0.004). The most commonly used supplements for boys were protein (57), vitamin C (22), and amino acids (19) and for girls were vitamin C (29), iron (15), and protein (13). The most common reason among boys for using supplements was “for muscle building” (n = 41, 59.4%) and among girls was “for diet and beauty” (n = 26, 52.0%). The most common source of information about supplements was the family, followed by the internet and social media. Girls who used supplements were clearly highly conscious about eating (P = 0.048). Conclusions Among Japanese high school students, boys had more experience using dietary supplements than girls. Female students who used supplements were more conscious, rather than neglectful, of their diet. Funding Sources Individual research expenses at Niigata University of Health and Welfare.