Practices, beliefs and knowledge of international and U.S. students regarding food supplements and health foods

Behavioral and cognitive parameters associated with food supplement and health food use were surveyed among a convenience sample of 142 international and 100 U.S. students. Among the international students, 140 used at least one product in the home country and 135 reported doing so in the university community. Ninety‐seven U.S. students used at least one supplement or health food in the university community. U.S. students used a significantly greater number of products (p < 0.001). The products used by the greatest number of international students overseas and in the university community and by the greatest number of U.S. respondents were vitamin C, calcium, and yogurt. Reasons for food supplement use reflected beliefs by both groups that these products prevented or cured specific medical conditions. Health foods in contrast were popular primarily for their taste and culinary attributes. International and U.S. students gave high accuracy ratings to academic/medical/scientific sources of nutrition information and low ratings to television and radio commercials, newspaper and magazine advertisements, friends and parents. The mean score for the international students on the nutrition knowledge test was 17.6 points, that for the U.S. students was 30.9 points. Low mean scores, together with widespread use of nutritional supplements and a strong belief in unsubstantiated health claims made on behalf of these products suggest that the students surveyed in this study take nutritional supplements without being able to justify their use. Both groups would benefit from accurate nutrition information regarding these products.