RESUMEN
This study was conducted to determine current awareness, extent of usage and perception of food supplements among adults from households in randomly selected barangays of Metro Manila included in the 7th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) and to compare current data with the 1998 survey data. The multistage sampling design employed in the 7th NNS with the household as the ultimate sampling unit was used. The respondents’ awareness, usage, reasons for using food supplements, presence of illness or disease conditions, and perceived health status after using supplements were obtained by self-administered pretested questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to describe subjects’ profile. Test of proportions were computed to compare and determine any difference between the 1998 and 2008 survey data. A total of 1,809 adults from 148 sampled households were selected as respondents, 55.8% were females and 44.2% males. Majority of respondents, 85.6%, were aware of food supplements, compared with as only 37.5% in 1998. By gender, women were more aware and were users of food supplements than men in 1998 and 2008. Among food supplements, the single nutrient category had the highest consumption, (64.7%) by regular users, followed by combined nutrients 60.4% by regular and 36.9% sporadic users. Herbal supplements had 51.4% regular and 48.6% sporadic users. Some important reasons cited for using food supplements were: “they make me healthy,” and “they give me energy” and “they are doctor-recommended.” About 48% of users perceived themselves as “slightly improved,” 45% as “very much improved” and 6.7% perceived “no change.” Majority of respondents agreed that health supplements are needed if a person feels tired and run-down” and that “health supplements make one feel better physically.” The same proportion (53%) of respondents in both survey periods, agreed that “health supplements usually improve a person’s physical appearance.” For both survey periods, majority strongly disagreed that “one can skip meals and just take health supplements.” The level of awareness and usage of food supplements among adults in Metro Manila is significantly higher in 2008 than in 1998. For both survey periods, there is a strong belief on the positive effects of food supplements on one’s health status.