Associations between Supplement Information Sources and Menopausal Women's Consumption of Herbal Supplements

Objective: It is unclear whether supplement information sources associate with menopausal women’s herbal supplement consumption. We investigated associations between information sources: 1) friends, family members, co-workers, or self; 2) their healthcare provider (including doctors, pharmacists, drugstore); 3) the Internet; 4) books, newspapers, newsletters, radio, magazines, television shows or commercials; 5) a health store, and one-time herbal supplement consumption. 1.2 Methods: Using Stony Brook University’s Dietary Supplements in Menopause dataset of 403 women, collected between May 7 and July 9, 2013, we developed a multivariable logistic regression model controlling for demographics, menopausal symptoms and knowledge of the FDA’s role in supplement regulation. 1.2 Results: Women who consult healthcare providers had 39% reduced odds of ever consuming an herbal supplement (OR=0.61; CI=0.38, 0.96). Women responding “No” to the question: “To the best of your knowledge, does the FDA require research evidence or clinical trials to demonstrate safety and efficacy?” had a 94% increased odds of ever consuming an herbal supplement (OR=1.94; CI=1.22, 3.08). We stratified our regression model by this response, producing distinct models. 1.4 Conclusion: Knowledge of the FDA’s role in supplement regulation plays a moderating role between information sources and menopausal women’s herbal supplement consumption, demonstrating the need for healthcare providers’ communication with women about supplement regulation.