NPR Online


Table 1
KNOWLEDGE OF AND ATTITUDES ABOUT DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
by frequency of use


                                                 Frequency of use:
                                             Regu-     Some-    H. ever/
                                   Total     larly     times     Never
								   
Follow news reports very/
   fairly closely*                  35%       56%       49%       27%
Very/somewhat familiar
   with supplements*                55%       88%       83%       40%
Give supplements to kids
   (have kids <18)*                 18%       42%       40%        8%
Important to have access
   to supplements*                  60%       91%       84%       46%
Good for health/well-being*         52%       85%       76%       38%
Supplements can help people
   with at least 4 of 6
   illnesses*                       36%       57%       47%       27%
Supplements are inadequately
   tested*                          48%       39%       44%       52%
Many supplements don't do
   what ads claim*                  49%       29%       36%       58%
Boosting immune system means:
   Prevents illness*                64%       73%       63%       62%
   Helps people when sick           43%       48%       45%       41%
People who use supplements
   are hurt/sick often/
   sometimes*                       47%       38%       45%       50%

 
Know that govt doesn't
   regulate supplements             53%       58%       46%       54%
Should be more govt
   regulation of:
      Safety                        59%       55%       55%       62%
      Purity/dosage                 60%       55%       58%       62%
      Ad claims                     63%       62%       62%       65%   
Extra regulation for
   supplements produced
   for children                     77%       78%       77%       77%

If govt said ineffective,
   would continue to use            72%       71%       72%       NA
  Note: * Significant difference between responses of those who use supplements regularly and those who use them hardly ever or never. Source: NPR/Kaiser Family Foundation/Kennedy School of Government Survey of Americans on Dietary Supplements, February 1999