Patterns of vitamin/mineral supplement usage by adolescents attending athletic high schools in Korea

An excessive use of vitamin/mineral supplements is considered by many to be a common health problem. We surveyed 1,355 adolescent boys and girls atten ding athletic high schools in Korea for their usage patterns of vitamin/min eral supplements. The usage rate of the vitamin/mineral supplements was 35. 8%. The most favored supplements were vitamin C, multivitamins, and calcium . The reasons most cited for taking supplements were "to recover from fatig ue," and "to maintain health." Vitamin and mineral intakes occurred over a wide range; mean intake values were typically higher than the Korean RDA. V itamins B-1, B-12 and C were consumed in very high amounts at 29.7, 17.9 an d 11.1 times the Korean RDA, respectively. When the intakes of nutrients fr om supplements and diet were combined, it was observed that the intakes of niacin, folic acid, vitamin C, and iron exceeded levels that have been prop osed as upper safe limits. The above data underscore the need to provide so und nutritional education to athletic adolescents and their coaches with re spect to the use of vitamin/ mineral supplements and the links between adeq uate diet, good health, and physical performance.