Dietary supplements consist of vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fibers, fatty acids, amino acids, and other nutritive or physiologically active components.
Objective:
The aim of the study is to determine the use of dietary supplements and herbal products among students in health-related university departments in Turkey and to evaluate their adherence to the Mediterranean diet.
Methods:
This study was conducted between March and June 2023 with a sample of 305 university students. Data were collected online through a questionnaire form, which included questions about the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) and the use of herbal products and dietary supplements.
Results:
The mean age of the students was 21.70 ± 3.04 years, with 26.2% using dietary supplements and 27.2% using herbal products. The majority of students were found to have a lack of knowledge about herbal products (54.4%) and dietary supplements (62.0%). The results revealed that 57.3% of participants believe in the benefits of nutritional supplements, while only 4.3% disagree. Additionally, 23.3% of participants view nutritional products as commercial. More than half (55.7%) of students had very poor adherence to the Mediterranean diet, with an average KIDMED score of 3.2 ± 2.95. KIDMED scores were not significantly influenced by factors such as gender (p = 0.133), daily number of main meals consumed (p = 0.179), awareness of herbal products and dietary supplements (p = 0.585, p = 0.440 respectively).
Conclusions:
Contrary to expectations, students had low adherence to the Mediterranean diet and insufficient knowledge about herbal products and dietary supplements. University students should be provided with education on balanced nutrition and advised to consult with expert healthcare professionals before using dietary supplements.
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