The use of, and perceptions about, dietary supplements among patients with heart failure

Background: Dietary supplement use is widespread; patterns of use and perceptions about supplements in individuals with heart failure (HF) are not well understood. Aims: The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence, patterns and reasons for use of dietary supplements, and to compare characteristics of, and perceptions about, safety and efficacy between dietary supplement user and nonuser participants with HF. Method: Patients with HF (n=99) completed a Dietary Supplement Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Independent sample t-tests, Fisher's exact test, and Chi square analyses compared dietary supplement users to non-users. Results: More than half of the participants used at least one dietary supplement and almost all patients using dietary supplements reported they had informed their healthcare provider. Dietary supplements were taken to improve intake of dietary components and better individual health state. Participants thought that dietary supplements in general were safer and more effective than current evidence suggests. Users and non-users expressed similar perceptions. Patients who used dietary supplements were older (64±10 years vs 53±12 years) and had a lower body mass index (30.0±6.5 kg/m2 vs 34.1±8.3 kg/m2) compared with patients who did not. Conclusion: Dietary supplement use was common in these participants with HF; global perceptions about safety and efficacy of dietary supplements were similar between users and non-users of dietary supplements. Systematic evaluation of dietary supplement use, with discussion about safety and efficacy may be constructive for patients with HF..