Dietary Supplement Use among Children Whose Parents Work at National Research Centre: A Pilot Study

Sara F Sallam^1, , Amal Hassanien¹, Hala H El Ashry¹, Amina H. Awad¹, Iman H Kamel¹, Nihad H Ahmed², Alshaimaa F. Kamal¹ and Saneya A. Wahba¹

¹Child Health Department, Medicine and Clinical Studies Research Institute, NRC

²Nutrition and Food Science Department, Institute of Food Industry and Nutrition Research, NRC

Cite this paper:
Sara F Sallam, Amal Hassanien, Hala H El Ashry, Amina H. Awad, Iman H Kamel, Nihad H Ahmed, Alshaimaa F. Kamal and Saneya A. Wahba. Dietary Supplement Use among Children Whose Parents Work at National Research Centre: A Pilot Study. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2023; 11(1):102-108. doi: 10.12691/jfnr-11-1-10

Abstract

Background: Dietary supplements use is increasing globally especially during confinement, with particular reference to vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc. Aim: To assess dietary supplements use and its association with sociodemographic factors among children whose parents work at National Research Centre Cairo, Egypt. Method: An online cross-sectional study was carried out among 200 children < 19 years old whose parents are working at NRC (87 mother and 19 father). An online questionnaire was prepared to elucidate dietary supplements use during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, from December 2020 to March 2021. Results: Overall prevalence of Dietary supplements consumption was (99\200 =49.5%) with no sex difference.DS were used significantly more often by children whose parents are highly educated or related to those working in the scientific sector. The most frequently used supplements as reported by parents were vitamin C (81.5%), zinc (53.8%) and vitamin D (46.9%). More than one third of children had iron and calcium supplement (36.9% and 35.4% respectively). No significant difference was found between supplementation and body mass index.DS were used to improve health (58.5%) and improve immunity (40.6%) with either physician or pharmacist advice. DS was taken with and without medical prescription. more than 20% of respondents are not aware that DS have side effects. Conclusion: Parental education is essential as regards to Dietary supplements use either for their children or for themselves.

Keywords:
dietary supplements COVID-19 children consumption awareness respondent

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	World Health Organization. Director-General's remarks at the media briefing on 2019-nCoV on 11 February 2020. http://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-remarks-at-the- media-briefmg-on-2019-ncov-on-n-february-2020 (Accessed on February 12, 2020).
[2]	World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 -- 11 March 2020. Available at: https://www.who. int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19-11-march-2020 (Accessed on May 01, 2020).
[3]	Weiss SR, Navas-Martin S. Coronavirus pathogenesis and the emerging pathogen severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2005; 69: 635.
[4]	Brendler T, Al-Harrasi A, Bauer R, Gafner S, Hardy ML, Heinrich M, et al. Botanical drugs and supplements affecting the immune response in the time of COVID-19: Implications for research and clinical practice. Phytother Res: PTR 2020.
[5]	Calder PC, Carr AC, Gombart AF, Eggersdorfer M. Optimal nutritional status for a wellfunctioning immune system is an important factor to protect against viral infections. Nutrients 2020; 12.
[6]	Munshi R, Hussein MH, Toraih EA, Elshazli RM, JardakC, Sultana N, et al. Vitamin D insufficiency as a potential culprit in critical COVID-19 patients. J Med Virol.2021; 93: 733-740.
[7]	Alexander J, Tinkov A, Strand TA, Alehagen U, SkalnyA, Aaseth J. Early nutritional interventions with zinc, selenium and vitamin D for raising anti-viral resistance against progressive COVID-19. Nutrients. 2020; 12: 2358.
[8]	FDA. Dietary Supplement Products & Ingredients. Available from Phttps://www.fda.gov/food/dietary-supplements/dietary-supplement-product-ingredients.
[9]	Ali N. Role of vitamin D in preventing of COVID-19 infection, progression and severity. J Infect Public Health. 2020; 13: 1373-1380.
[10]	Mosekilde L. Vitamin D and the elderly. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2005; 62: 265-281.
[11]	Prasad AS, Beck FW, Bao B, Fitzgerald JT, Snell DC, Steinberg JD, Cardozo LJ. 2007. Zinc supplementation decreases incidence of infections in the elderly: effect of zinc on generation of cytokines and oxidative stress. Am J Clin Nutr 85: 837-844.
[12]	Messina G, Polito R, Monda V, Cipolloni L, Di Nunno N, Di Mizio G, Murabito P, Carotenuto M, Messina A, Pisanelli D, Valenzano A, Cibelli G, Scarinci A, Monda M, Sessa F. 2020. Functional role of dietary interventionto improve the outcome of COVID-19: a hypothesis of work. Int J Mol Sci 21: 3104.
[13]	Giuseppe C, Massimo N, Mauro P, Michela P, Simone P, Giorgio L, Mariangela R, Hellas C, D’Antona G. 2020. The long history of vitamin C:from prevention of the common cold to potential aid in the treatment of COVID-19. Front Immunol 11: 574029.
[14]	Carr AC, Rowe S. 2020. The emerging role of vitamin C in the prevention and treatment of COVID- 19.Nutrients 12: 3286.
[15]	Bousquet J, Cristol JP, Czarlewski W, Anto JM, Martineau A, Haahtela T, et al.Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19: time for research to develop adaptation strategies. Clin Transl Allergy. 2020 Dec 3; 10(1): 58.
[16]	Dwyer J, Nahin RL, Rogers GT, Barnes PM, Jacques PM, Sempos CT, et al. Prevalence and predictors of children's dietary supplement use: the 2007 National Health Interview Survey. Am J Clin Nutr.2013; 97(6): 1331-7.
[17]	Organization WH, others. WHO child growth standards: length/height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length, weight-for-height and body mass index-for-age: methods and development. World Health Organization; 2006.
[18]	World Health Organization (WHO) Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic, report of a WHO expert consultation. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2000; 894:i-xii. 1-253.
[19]	Mayasari, N.R.; Khanh Ngan Ho, D.; Lundy, D.J.; Skalny, A.V.; Tinkov, A.A.; Teng, I.C.; Wu, M.C.; Faradina, A.; Zaki Mahdi Mohammed, A.; Min Park, J.; et al. Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Security and Diet-Related Lifestyle Behaviors: An Analytical Study of Google Trends-Based Query Volumes. Nutrients 2020, 12, 3103.
[20]	Cowan, A.; Jun, S.; Gahche, J.; Tooze, J.; Dwyer, J.; Eicher-Miller, H.; Bhadra, A.; Guenther, P.; Potischman, N.; Dodd, K.; et al. Dietary Supplement Use Differs by Socioeconomic and Health- Related Characteristics among U.S. Adults, NHANES 2011-2014.Nutrients 2018, 10, 1114.
[21]	Barnes, K.; Ball, L.; Desbrow, B.; Alsharairi, N.; Ahmed, F. Consumption and reasons for use of dietary supplements in an Australian university population. Nutrition 2016, 32, 524-530.
[22]	Dickinson, A.; Blatman, J.; El-Dash, N.; Franco, J.C. Consumer Usage and Reasons for Using Dietary Supplements: Report of a Series of Surveys. J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 2014, 33, 176-182.
[23]	Namazi, N., Kelishadi, R., Heshmat, R., Motlagh, M. E., Sanaei, M., Shafiee, G., Ziaodini, H., Beshtar, S., Taheri, M., Aminaee, T., Qorbani, M., & Shahrzad, M. K. (2019). Determinants of taking dietary supplements in Iranian children and adolescents: the CASPIAN-V study. Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders, 18(2), 409-417.
[24]	Huybrechts, I.; Maes, L.; Vereecken, C.; De Keyzer, W.; De Bacquer, D.; De Backer, G.; De Henauw, S.High dietary supplement intakes among Flemish preschoolers. Appetite 2010, 54, 340-345.
[25]	Bylinowska, J.; Januszko, O.; Rolf, K.; Sici ' nska, E.; Kalu' za, J.; Pietruszka, B. Factors determining the use of dietary supplements containing vitamins and/or minerals in a selected group of children aged 6-12 years.Ann. Natl. Inst. Hyg. 2012, 63, 59-66.
[26]	Piekara A, Krzywonos M, Kaczmarczyk M. What Do Polish Parents and Caregivers Think of Dietary Supplements for Children Aged 3-12? Nutrients. 2020; 12(10): 3076.
[27]	https://www.statista.com/statistics/308334/dietary-supplement-usage-us-adults-by-education- level/
[28]	Alyami, H.S.; Orabi, M.A.A.; Aldhabbah, F.M.; Alturki, H.N.; Aburas, W.I.; Alfayez, A.I.; Alharbi, A.S.; Almasuood, R.A.; Alsuhaibani, N.A. Knowledge about COVID-19 and beliefs about and use of herbal products during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Pharm. J. 2020, 28, 1326-1332.
[29]	Brown, J.D.; Vouri, S.M.; Manini, T.M. Survey-reported medication changes among older adults during the SARS-CoV-2(COVID-19) pandemic. Res. Soc. Adm. Pharm. 2020.
[30]	Mrityunjaya, M.; Pavithra, V.; Neelam, R.; Janhavi, P.; Halami, P.M.; Ravindra, P.V. Immune- Boosting, Antioxidant and Antiinflammatory Food Supplements Targeting Pathogenesis of COVID-19. Front. Immunol. 2020, 11, 570122.
[31]	Karbownik, M.S.; Dobielska, M.; Paul, E.; Kowalczyk, R.P.; Kowalczyk, E. Health-, medication- and dietary supplementrelated behaviors and beliefs relatively unchanged during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Res. Soc. Adm. Pharm. 2020.
[32]	Hamulka J, Jeruszka-Bielak M, Gornicka M, Drywien ME, Zielinska-Pukos MA. Dietary Supplements during COVID-19 Outbreak. Results of Google Trends Analysis Supported by PLifeCOVID-19 Online Studies. Nutrients. 2020 Dec 27; 13(1): 54.
[33]	Scarmozzino, F.; Visioli, F. Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown modified dietary habits of almost half the population in an Italian sample. Foods 2020, 9, 675.
[34]	Snyder, F.J.; Mary, D.; Kirkpatrick, C.; Neill, K.S. Use and safety perceptions regarding herbal supplements: A study of older persons in southeast Idaho. J. Nutr. Elder. 2009, 28, 81-95.
[35]	Philibert, C.; Hoegy, D.; Philippe, M.; Marec-Berard, P.; Bleyzac, N. A French survey on the resort oforal alternative complementary medicines used in children with cancer. Bull. Cancer 2015, 102, 854-862.
[36]	Mohsen, H.; Yazbeck, N.; Al-Jawaldeh, A.; Bou Chahine, N.; Hamieh, H.; Mourad, Y.; Skaiki, F.; Salame, H.; Salameh, P.; Hoteit, M. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Dietary Supplementation, before and during the COVID-19Pandemic: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey in the Lebanese Population. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 8856.