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Abstract:
Aims: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding micronutrients and dietary supplements among medical students. Moreover, this study aimed to compare between non-users and multivitamins/ minerals supplements users among pharmacy and dentistry students particularly from different levels.
Methods: A cross- sectional, questionnaire based study conducted to a convenient sample composing of 220 medical students pursuing pharmacy and dental at Ajman University- UAE. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS (version 23.0).
Results: The response rate was 89.8%. The result showed that 33 (15%) had a good knowledge regarding DS and micronutrients, while 123 (55.9%) had a good practice. There was a very high significance between the scores of Pharmacy and Dentistry students (p<0.001). In addition to that, males were more likely to be DS users (56.1%) compared to females (43.9%) with a significance of (p= 0.029).
Conclusion: Although the usage of dietary supplements in medical students is high, there is a dearth of knowledge, especially regarding the role of micronutrients in health and diseases. This study put a spot light on the poor knowledge of the most medical students.
Key words: Dietary supplements, Knowledge, Practice, Micronutrients, Medical students.
Introduction:
Dietary supplements (DS) are considered as nutraceutical preparations that can be formulated in certain dosage forms containing certain micronutrients to meet the deficiency of certain nutrients. However, these supplements can't replace the nutritional values of natural food. Additionally, micronutrients as: vitamin and minerals contributed in competing many chronic diseases and maintaining a balanced health.[1]
According to American Society of nutrition, there is a large proportion of population using dietary supplements (DS) in their routine life.[2] However, previous studies couldn't show a correlation between knowledge and DS consumption. On the other hand, some studies revealed that the lack of knowledge regarding the nutritional values of DS contributes in an improper DS consumption; in which consumers are unable to figure out the goals of their food.[3,4] In 2007, the journal of ADA reported that the attitude of DS is relevant to the good knowledge of DS.[5] Despite that, a large number of athletes who regularly use DS, don't have an accurate knowledge of DS; in which it is essential to educate them to make sure they have the suitable DS choice.[6] Additionally,...