USE OF BOTANICAL DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS IS COMMON AMONG MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN

Sales of herbal preparation have increased dramatically in the US during the past few decades, but estimates of their use among specific groups are rare. To examine use of botanical dietary supplements (BDS) among perimenopausal women (age range 40-60), researchers in Chicago used standardized questionnaires to interview 500 female outpatients at university hospital clinics.

Almost half of the respondents were black, 40 percent were white, and 11 percent were Hispanic. Use of BDS was reported by 79 percent of the respondents; the number of different preparations used per respondent ranged from 1 to 11 (mean 2.9). About 37 percent of respondents claimed to use BDS daily, 14 percent used them weekly, and 18 percent used them as needed or seasonally. Only 24 percent said they used botanicals to prevent disease, and 68 percent said they used botanicals to treat symptoms or diseases. Among users, 42 percent used soy products, and 35 percent used green tea. Most women believed that BDS were effective, and about 68 percent said that they had never experienced adverse reactions. Only 4 percent of respondents obtained BDS information from healthcare professionals, and about 70 percent did not inform their physicians of BDS use.

Although these results might not be representative of BDS use in the entire population, this study documents widespread use of herbal preparations in middle-aged women and emphasizes the importance of asking specifically about such use.

Source: Robert W. Rebar, M.D. Journal Watch; April 1, 2003; p. 55.

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