RESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to investigate the consumption of health functional foods according to age group. We surveyed 300 subjects with quota sampling aged 10 to 50 and over. The rate of consumption of health functional foods by users was substantial (52.7%). Consumers of health functional foods showed higher scores for interest in health (3.97 vs 3.49, P<0.001) and knowledge of health functional foods (3.79 vs 3.30, P<0.001) than non-consumers of health functional foods. Regarding consumers of health functional foods, the number (P<0.01) and types (P<0.05) of health functional foods, reasons for taking (P<0.05), motivations for buying (P<0.05), periods of taking (P<0.001), cost per month (P<0.01), observance of instruction (P<0.01), and effectiveness (P<0.01) were significantly different according to age group. For non-consumers of health functional foods, reasons for not-taking (P<0.01) and types of health functional foods to be planned (P<0.001) were different according to age group. For consumers and non-consumers, problems (P<0.01) and improvements (P<0.001) for health functional foods showed significant differences according to age group. The majority of subjects (85.4%) answered that heath functional foods had no side-effects. Reported side effects were inappetence (6.6%), constipation (2.6%), and headache (2.0%). In conclusion, differentiated strategies and specialized education programs according to age group might be needed for promoting adequate consumption and preventing side-effects of health functional foods.