Volume 22, Issue 2 (7-2026)
J Health Syst Res 2026, 22(2): 286-294 |
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Research code: 162609975
Ethics code: IR.IAU.PS.REC.1402.011
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Tabatabaie S M, Mojani-Qomi M S, Shiehmorteza M. Relationship between Consumption of Nutritional Supplements and Quality of Life: A cross-sectional study in University Students. J Health Syst Res 2026; 22 (2) :286-294
URL: http://hsr.mui.ac.ir/article-1-2071-en.html
URL: http://hsr.mui.ac.ir/article-1-2071-en.html
1- Student of Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3- Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3- Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (113 Views)
Background: Nowadays, the use of nutritional supplements is expanding. The present study, with an emphasis on the young women's health, examined attitudes toward dietary supplement consumption and its association with the quality of life (QOL) among university students.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 among female students of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Tehran, Iran, and questionnaires from 378 participants were analyzed. The Dietary Screener Questionnaire (DSQ), which is the standard tool for supplement intake assessment, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) for assessing QOL, and a demographic questionnaire were employed to collect data. The participants' attitudes toward supplement intake were also evaluated. Data analysis was performed with SPSS software.
Findings: The prevalence of supplement consumption among the participants was about 74%. Among supplement consumers, 80% believed that nutritional supplements were essential for health. No significant difference was observed between the physical health and mental health scores among supplement consumers and non-consumers
(P > 0.05). Despite higher scores and means on some of the different dimensions of QOL in the supplement consumer group (P > 0.05), this difference was only significant in the physical functioning dimension (P = 0.02). Correlation tests revealed only a very weak inverse association between magnesium supplement use and the overall emotional health score (P = 0.046), and no association was observed between using other supplements and QOL scores (physical health and emotional health). The effect of other variables using the linear regression test showed that studying in non-medical fields was a significant predictor of decreasing physical health scores, and increasing age and having chronic diseases also led to decreasing mental health scores (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Education on the use of nutritional supplements is essential at the community level. Policies regarding the appropriate use of dietary supplements should be adopted.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 among female students of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Tehran, Iran, and questionnaires from 378 participants were analyzed. The Dietary Screener Questionnaire (DSQ), which is the standard tool for supplement intake assessment, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) for assessing QOL, and a demographic questionnaire were employed to collect data. The participants' attitudes toward supplement intake were also evaluated. Data analysis was performed with SPSS software.
Findings: The prevalence of supplement consumption among the participants was about 74%. Among supplement consumers, 80% believed that nutritional supplements were essential for health. No significant difference was observed between the physical health and mental health scores among supplement consumers and non-consumers
(P > 0.05). Despite higher scores and means on some of the different dimensions of QOL in the supplement consumer group (P > 0.05), this difference was only significant in the physical functioning dimension (P = 0.02). Correlation tests revealed only a very weak inverse association between magnesium supplement use and the overall emotional health score (P = 0.046), and no association was observed between using other supplements and QOL scores (physical health and emotional health). The effect of other variables using the linear regression test showed that studying in non-medical fields was a significant predictor of decreasing physical health scores, and increasing age and having chronic diseases also led to decreasing mental health scores (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Education on the use of nutritional supplements is essential at the community level. Policies regarding the appropriate use of dietary supplements should be adopted.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
education health and promotion
Received: 2025/05/20 | Accepted: 2025/12/23 | Published: 2026/06/22
Received: 2025/05/20 | Accepted: 2025/12/23 | Published: 2026/06/22
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