Use of Functional Foods for Health by 14-18 Year Old Students Attending General Junior or Senior High Schools in Korea

ABSTRACT

Various types of functional foods for health (FFH) are popularly used among adolescents. We surveyed 858 students, 15.0 +/- 1.6 (14 - 18)years of age, attending general junior or senior high schools in Korea for FFH use and significant variables for their FFH use including demographic characteristics, food consumption frequency and nutritional beliefs. The use prevalence of FFH was 47.8%, and among all types of FFH, nutritional supplements were taken most frequently, followed by red ginseng products > enzyme containing products > plant extract-fermented products. FFH use was higher in older aged-group, subjects lived in small or middle city, and those from families with a high socioeconomic status in comparison to each corresponding group. Health concern on offsprings by parents and usage ratio of FFH by family was higher in users than in nonusers of FFH. Total score of dietary assessment was higher in users than in nonusers of FFH, and users had a more positive view concerning the potential health benefit of FFH than did nonusers. Most users of FFH took FFH when they were healthy (50.7%), and they did not feel special effects through the FFH use (57.1%). Most users of FFH got the information on FFH through family and relatives (61.5%), and most of them purchased FFH at pharmacy or oriental medicine clinics (55.1%). FFH users preferred vitamin C-and Ca-supplements most among the vitamin.mineral supplements belonged to FFH. Given the widespread use of FFH by adolescents, the reasonable use of these products for the contribution to their overall health and well-being is a subject that is emphasized in nutrition education for them.