Factors influencing the choice of a food supplement

Aim: to investigate the factors which influence residents‘ choice of a food supplement. Objectives: 1) To determine and measure the usage, reasons for usage and frequency of food supplements use, supplements variety and purchase places. 2) To define and evaluate residents’ knowledge and views about food supplements, the need to use them, usage effectivity, accessibility to supplements. 3) To identify the main sources for acquiring information about food supplements. Research methods: In the beginning aims and objectives were chosen as well as the methods of investigation needed. A theoretical overview was conducted – the scientific literature and investigation analysis with interpretation. Empirical research – a survey was conducted from 2015 to 2016 with an analysis of the results given. The survey consisted of 18 questions. A total number of 462 Lithuanian nationality people older than 18 years old participated in the survey, their responsiveness was 83.12 percent. Results: The analysis shows that as much as 72.66 percent. respondents consume food supplements. Men usually choose food supplements to enhance immunity (32,7 percent) and for sport (30,6 percent). Women mostly choose food supplements for immunity improvement (44,8 percent) and supplements for skin, hair and nails (37,4 percent).The majority of respondents – 42.7 percent. – use of dietary supplements was led to by a pharmacist. 93,49 percent. of respondents face with food supplements advertising, but advertising influences the choice of food supplements only 22,66 percent. of respondents. City habitants consume more food supplements than town or village living people (76,60 percent.). Most of the food supplements are used by higher–educated part of the population (79.84 percent.) And earning 600 to 1,000 euros per month. In most cases the population's consumption of food supplements is encouraged by pharmacists (42.7 percent.), As well as the majority of the population tend to buy dietary supplements in pharmacies (73.7 percent.). Conclusions: 1) It was established that most of the surveyed population consume food supplements – 72.66 percent. The majority of the population purchase dietary supplements in a pharmacy – 73.7 percent. 2) The study revealed that most residents use food supplements for 2-3 months of the year – 30.99 percent of respondents (p < 0,05). 3) It was found that the choice of food supplements is influenced by respondents‘ gender. Women mostly choose food supplements for immunity improvement (44,8 percent, p < 0,05) and supplements for skin, hair and nails (37,4 percent, p < 0,05). Men usually choose food supplements to enhance immunity (32,7 percent, p < 0,05) and for sport (30,6 percent, p < 0,05). 4) It was discovered that residents favor food supplements because only every tenth person has doubts about supplement‘s effectiveness (10,9 percent). Pharmacists have the biggest influence on respondents choices to start using supplements – 42.7 percent, family members (26,8 percent) and doctors (26 percent). 5) The majority of the respondents are facing food supplements advertising – 93,49 percent but 61.3 percent of respondents stated the fact that the information in advertisements is not enough. A significant part of the residents (48,1 percent) said that they search for information about food supplements on the Internet. 6) In accordance with the demographic distribution of food supplements they are most frequently used: by respondents living in the city (76,60 percent, p < 0,05), higher educated respondents (79.84 percent, p < 0,05), respondents earning 600–1000 euros per month (84.69 percent, p < 0,05)