Knowledge of Dietary Supplements Labeling and Regulations among College Students: A Qualitative Study

The use of dietary supplements is becoming more popular as has been demonstrated in recent national surveys assessing the use of complementary and alternative therapies. Many people report using dietary supplements to maintain health, prevent disease and feel better. This poses an important challenge to address especially given how dietary supplements are currently regulated. Under the Dietary and Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, dietary supplements are regulated as food and have different set of regulations governing their development and marketing. College students appear to be a large marketing target for the consumption of dietary supplements. However, little research has been reported regarding their knowledge and understanding of information found on supplement labels.

We held three focus groups with 40 participants in total (21 men, 19 women). Each session was facilitated by a skilled moderator, lasted 2-3 hours and was audiotaped. The aim of the focus group was to identify the knowledge of participants with respect to regulations and labeling, with an emphasis on how they appraise the quality of such information. Transcripts were analyzed for emerging themes using NVIVO software.  Results revealed that participants had some knowledge regarding dietary supplement labeling, such as the identification of active ingredients, the recommended dosage, and the populations who shouldn’t be taking the supplement. However, misconceptions regarding the term “natural”, product claims and the concept of “ percent Daily Value” existed.

Tailored health promotion strategies and interventions are needed to address the misconceptions of dietary supplement labeling and regulations among college students.