New Zealand researcher, Dr Shaun Holt, says Ministry of Health research shows that around half of New Zealanders take dietary and health supplements.
The survey’s results were similar to those found in another researcher’s survey of 900 US physicians. He was interested to know which supplements doctors and pharmacists took themselves and what they recommended to patients; he therefore surveyed 71 attendees at a series of presentations. The survey found that GPs and pharmacists often take dietary and health supplements and most of them will routinely recommend one or more to their patients.
Of those surveyed, around one in five GPs take a multivitamin or vitamin D supplement, with one in four taking fish oil. Multivitamins, fish oil, calcium, glucosamine/chondroitin, vitamin C and magnesium were taken by a significant proportion of pharmacists. Probiotics are also highly recommended by pharmacists (19 out of 21) and GPs (23 out of 50), although few take probiotics themselves, instead recommending that consumers combine them with antibiotics, in the short-term, to prevent gastrointestinal side-effects.
Dr Holt says it is encouraging that his survey found that GPs and pharmacists tend to make evidence-based recommendations. He said: 'GPs and pharmacists generally receive very little education about natural products when studying for their qualifications, so it was pleasing to see that many appear to be doing their own research and basing their dietary supplement recommendations and personal use on products that are supported by strong research findings.'
He says that dietary supplement use is growing worldwide, with consumers often choosing to self-medicate: 'Doctors and pharmacists regularly tell me that they would like to receive more education about natural products during their training. Many try to keep up-to-date with dietary supplement research findings once they have qualified, but it can be difficult to keep up with the volume of reading required, and to know which research and sources to trust,' he added.
Alison Quesnel, Executive Director of natural products industry umbrella group, Natural Products New Zealand, says the survey findings reflect a worldwide trend of increasing consumer demand for high quality natural products that work.
'Natural health products have a recognized complementary role to play in health management and support. They are popular because consumers are increasingly seeking affordable, effective healthcare options that complement or replace pharmaceutical products, so it is not surprising that doctors and pharmacists are also following this trend,' she says.
Case Study
General Practitioner Chris Tofield takes dietary supplements and also recommends them to patients, when appropriate. 'I take omega-3 fish oil because there’s a lot of evidence-based research showing that it’s beneficial for preventing cardiovascular disease and for promoting brain health. It’s also good for joints and, as a keen runner, I take it to stop my knees aching.'
Dr Tofield also takes probiotics because research shows it benefits gut health and supports the immune system. He also regularly recommends these two supplements to patients — particularly probiotics for those who are taking antibiotics. The GP, who is based in the New Zealand city Tauranga, believes that integrative medicine — complementing pharmaceutical medicines with natural health products — is the way of the future.
'Both types of products go hand in hand because natural health products support the body, whereas pharmaceutical drugs treat the condition. Furthermore, there’s evidence that some natural treatments can potentially achieve the same outcomes as pharmaceutical medicines,' he said. 'For example, a heart attack sufferer would benefit from a range of pharmaceutical drugs to treat the condition and prevent its recurrence. Additional natural products, such as fish oil, could be given in conjunction to further reduce the risk.'
'I have found that patients are generally very happy to accept my recommendation to take a dietary supplement,' says Dr Tofield. 'As would be the case with pharmaceutical medicines, it is important to recommend supplements that work and this is why I take care to recommend natural products that are backed by evidence-based science.'
