Doctors and nurses aren't the only health experts who recommend supplements to their patients. In fact, not by a long shot, according to the Life…supplemented Healthcare Professionals Impact Study of 900 cardiologists, orthopedic specialists and dermatologists, a recent follow-up to a 2009 report, conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs for the Council for Responsible Nutrition.
Orthopedists were close to unanimous in their support for supplements, with 91 percent recommending them to their patients, followed by cardiologists at 72 percent and dermatologists at 66 percent. Another positive trend among these health professionals: Close to half of them had been taking a supplement at least four years and third for more than a decade.
There was one interesting disconnect in the numbers game, however. Cardiologists and orthopedic specialists didn't necessarily practice what they preached. Only 57 percent of cardiologists (57 percent) followed their own supplementation guidance, while orthopedists were a bit better about doing so at 73 percent. Nevertheless, the numbers flipped for dermatologists as 75 percent took supplements, a 9-point upward swing from their aggregate patient recommendations.
Among the most common supplement-related products used by health professionals:
- Multivitamins
- Omega-3 rich fish oil
- Green tea
Sources:
Nutrition Journal March 3, 2011 Free Full Text Study
EurekAlert March 10, 2011
Nutraceuticals World March 14, 2011