Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Usage by Retired Citizens

The specific objective discussed in this paper was the description of vitamin and mineral supplementation practices of retired citizens. Eighty non-institutionalized, retired citizens between the ages of 58-88 were interviewed. Forty-nine percent used supplements. Most persons used only one supplement, which most frequently was a multivitamin preparation. The length of time of supplement usage varied considerably. The majority of the supplement users spent less than $4.00 monthly. Most of those who used supplements felt the supplements contributed to their health but nine of the 39 subjects took them because they felt they did not eat well. The most common sources for receiving information regarding supplement usage was the doctor or family/friends. There was similarity between usres and non-users of supplements as to their self rating of their overall health.