Pharmacists firmly behind dietary supplements

Pharmacists have become an influential information source for consumers, answering questions about dietary supplements and offering recommendations to their customers. Additionally, pharmacists themselves are incorporating dietary supplements into their lives as a means of increasing their overall health and wellness. According to research from the “Life…Supplemented” Healthcare Professionals (HCP) Impact Study1, 93 percent of pharmacists recommend supplements to their customers, while 87 percent believe that supplements can play an important role

A pharmacist’s training specifically qualifies him or her to take a comprehensive look at an individual’s current prescribed medications and determine if any potential drug-dietary supplement interactions or drug-induced nutrient depletions may need to be addressed. To maximize benefits and safety it is important to talk to a pharmacist or other qualified health care practitioner about all the things you are taking for your health.

With regard to which supplements pharmacists were most often asked about, the top three mentioned by respondents are omega-3/fish oil (mentioned by 73 percent), calcium (73 percent) and glucosamine/chondroitin (70 percent). Pharmacists, like many other healthcare populations, also were willing to take their own counsel when it comes to supplements. Nearly nine in 10 pharmacists said they use dietary supplements (86 percent) citing “overall health and wellness” (44 percent) and “filling in nutrient gaps” (40 percent) as the top two reasons they personally take dietary supplements. Seventy six percent of those surveyed indicated that they take a multivitamin; other popular supplements taken by pharmacists include omega-3/fish oil (35 percent), calcium (35 percent), vitamin C (32 percent), B vitamins (25 percent), as well as vitamin D (23 percent) and fiber (19 percent).