“Life…supplemented” Study Reveals Doctor's Supplement Choices

The results of the 2008 “Life…supplemented” Healthcare Professionals Impact Study show that orthopedic specialists, cardiologists and dermatologists both consume and give dietary supplements to their patients for nuanced diseases as well as overall wellness.

“We learned from the 2007 HCP Impact Study that physicians and nurses are taking supplements as part of a proactive wellness regimen that also includes healthy diet and regular exercise,” said Judy Blatman, senior vice president of communications at the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN; Washington DC.), that heads the study.

“With the second year of this study, we were able to dive into specific specialties and find similar trends, further demonstrating the important role for doctors in incorporating dietary supplements as an integral part of wellness.”

The highest dietary supplement use was among dermatologist with 75 percent of dermatologists using dietary supplements and 60 percent believing the use of dietary supplements among consumers is mainstream. About 73 percent of orthopaedic specialists use dietary supplements and 63 percent believe the use of dietary supplements among consumers is mainstream. The number among cardiologists is 57 percent to 53 percent.

The study surveyed 1,177 healthcare professionals (300 primary care physicians, 301 OB/GYNs, 299 other physician specialists and 277 registered nurses and nurse practitioners).