Food supplements as viewed by consumers in Lower Saxony

There is increasing consumer acceptance of vitamin and mineral food supplem ents. In a representative survey in Lower Saxony, the age- and sex-related frequency of intake was determined and people were questioned about their h abits of intake and their attitudes towards the necessity and effectiveness of food supplementation. Supplements were ingested by 36.1 % on average (4 0.4 % in M omen, 31.5 % in men). Supplement intake increased with increasin g age. Consumers expect supplements to protect them against diseases. Great attention is paid to a preparation's composition as the essential criterum of consumer choice.