Arming yourself with knowledge about which dietary supplements are the most popular for various types of patients can help you tailor recommendations to each patient, and give your pharmacy’s front-end sales a boost.
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) recently released its 2014 CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements, a report that documents trends and statistics about the 68 percent of adults in the U.S. who take dietary supplements.
Before you make your next supplement recommendation, here are 10 facts you should know about dietary supplement consumers in the U.S.
1. More women take supplements than men
Seventy-one percent of women report taking a dietary supplement compared to only 65 percent of men.
2. Older Americans are more likely to take supplements
Seventy-four percent of U.S. adults 55 years old and older take dietary supplements compared to just 66 percent of adults aged 35 to 54 years old.
3. Vitamins and minerals are the most popular supplements
Ninety-seven percent of supplement users report taking multivitamins, making this the most popular supplement category. Specialty supplements, such as omega-3/fatty acids and fiber, are the second most common category with 43 percent of supplement users taking some sort of specialty supplement.
4. Patients consult their doctors about vitamins
Fifty-two percent of supplement users consult their physicians for information on supplements. Only 28 percent of supplement users report going to their pharmacists for reliable information, which indicates room for growth.
5. Supplement use varies by generation
The most common supplement for Generation Y is a multivitamin with 83 percent of supplement users in this generation taking one. For Baby Boomers, omega-3/fatty acid supplements are the most common with 24 percent taking this type of vitamin. Thirteen percent of Generation X supplement users take a green tea supplement.
6. People purchase supplements from pharmacies
Pharmacies are the second most popular place for people to purchase supplements with 34 percent of supplement users purchasing vitamins there. These stores are second only to mass merchandisers, where 41 percent of supplement users have bought vitamins.
7. Patients take supplements for a variety of benefits
Fifty-four percent of users take supplements for the overall health and wellness benefits, making that the most common reason patients take supplements. Other common responses (that garnered at least a quarter of respondents) include filling nutrient gaps in their diet, bone health and immune health.
8. Supplement users live healthier lifestyles than non-users
Supplement users are more likely to eat a balanced diet, not smoke, maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly. Helping your patients who don’t take a supplement find the right one for them can be the first step in moving them toward a healthier lifestyle.
9. Supplements are used everywhere
While other health trends vary depending on the region of the country, the percent of Americans who use supplements remains roughly the same in all regions of the U.S., hovering around 68 percent nationwide.
10. Middle class and educated patients are more likely to use supplements
Seventy-two percent of college graduates report taking a supplement, and 71 percent of U.S. adults in households with incomes of $50,000 or greater also report taking supplements.
Related articles:
How to Increase Front-End Sales with Vitamins
3 Surprising Front End Facts
6 Seasonal Merchandising Strategies for Pharmacies
