الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The poor diet may have a detrimental impact on health because of its association with numerous nutritional as well as other chronic health related conditions, which will eventually increase the burden on health care systems and reduce life expectancy. A healthy diet includes a variety of plant-based and animal-based foods that provide nutrients to body. In addition, the primary aim is to maintain healthy balanced diet, but if this is not possible, other ways are to ensure that micronutrients are replenished. Therefore, dietary supplements can be an accessible tool for everyone to integrate in to their daily diets.
The actual effectiveness and safety of dietary supplements may be arising from the concept that those supplements are harmless and safe to consume. However, the consumption of great amount may have severe negative impacts.
Generally, the pattern of dietary supplement usage in the developing world has been relatively neglected as an international health problem, the documentation of the prevalence of dietary supplements use is lacking in developing countries.
As there is no data about DSs consumption pattern among mothers in Subrathah city, Libya, the current study was designed as an attempt to estimate the frequency of vitamin and mineral supplements consumption among mothers attending health care centers, determine the causes and factors associated with consumption of vitamin and mineral supplements among them, and to assess knowledge of mothers as regards vitamin and mineral supplements consumption.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 mothers attending health care centers in Subrathah city. All women who have giving birth, age from 20 and older were included in the study.
Data collection was done by using a pre-designed interviewing questionnaire which consisted of 4 sections including: socio-economic data and medical history, dietary habits and life style, knowledge about dietary sources of vitamin, minerals, and dietary supplements, consumption, and pattern of dietary supplements.
Data entry and statistical analysis were done by using the software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Statistical analysis was performed in both descriptive and inferential forms.
Almost one-half (48.3%) of study participants consume dietary supplements.
There were no statistically significant differences between both users and non-users as regards socio-economic data.
More than three quarters of mothers reported neither having chronic diseases nor taking any medications higher among the non-users with statistically significant difference.
Most of the study participants (84.8%) had good level of knowledge about vitamins and minerals regarding of their sources and importance to health. About 51% of them were non-users (with no statistically significant difference).
More than one-third (40%) of study participants had good level of knowledge about dietary supplements with 51.3% of them were dietary supplements users with no statistically significant difference.
More than one-third (42.5%, and 39.9%) of users consumed multi-vitamin & minerals, as well as vitamin D, respectively. While vitamin C, calcium, and vitamin B12, respectively were consumed by less than one-fifth (18.7%, 17.6%, and 11.4%). Minority (7.3%, and 4.1%) consume omega 3, and vitamin A, respectively.
Almost one-half (48.2%) justified that they have deficiency manifestations, while 41.5% of users consume supplements to maintain their health. Only 13.5% stated that they consume those supplements to increase their activity.
As for regularity of consumption, the study findings revealed that 47.2% of users consume dietary supplements regularly.
The majority (87.6%) of users prefer capsules form of dietary supplement, while 1%, 9.3%, and 12.4% of them prefer powder, drink, or injection, respectively.
Referring to source of advice for using dietary supplements, doctor represents the main advice source for more than one-half (54.4%) of users, whereas nutritionist was the advice source for 20.2% of dietary supplement users. Other advice sources were pharmacist, friends, fitness trainer, and person himself and represented by 4.1%, 2.1%, 5.2%, and 14%, respectively.
The mean of total expenditure on dietary supplements was (52.95 ± 27.03) dinars/ month.
In relation to the side effects of dietary supplements, the majority of the users (81.9%) do not experience any side effects, while the others may suffer from various side effects, namely headache and balance loss (1%); tachycardia (4.7%); dizziness (1.6%); stomach pain (9.3%), in addition to other side effects (1.6%).
6.2 Conclusion
Dietary supplement consumption was common among the participating mothers in Subrathah city, Libya. Specifically, 48.3% of women consume dietary supplements.
Multi-vitamin & minerals, as well as vitamin D were the most common dietary supplements types consumed by study participants where they were consumed by more than one third of them, followed by vitamin C, calcium, and vitamin B12 that were consumed by less than one-fifth of women. Minority consume omega 3, and vitamin A.
Deficiency manifestations were the most common reason for dietary supplements consumption, where it was represented by almost one-half of users, while 41.5% of users consume supplements to maintain their health. Only 13.5% stated that they consume those supplements to increase their activity
Concerning regularity of dietary supplements consumption, the study findings revealed that near one half of users consume them regularly.
Majority of users prefer capsules, while minority of them prefers powder, drink, or injection.
Doctor represents the main advice source for more than one-half of dietary supplement users, whereas nutritionist was the advice source for one-fifth of users. Other advice sources were pharmacist, friends, fitness trainer, and person himself and represented by minority of study participants.
Regarding knowledge level about dietary sources of vitamin and minerals and dietary supplement consumption, most of study participants had good level of knowledge about vitamins and minerals regarding sources and importance to health with one-half of them were non-users with no statistically significant difference.
In relation to knowledge level about dietary supplements and dietary supplements consumption, more than one- third of study participants had good level of knowledge about dietary supplements with one-half of them were dietary supplements users with no statistically significant difference.
6.3. Recommendations
Based on the previous results it’s recommended to:
1. The assessment of women’s status and their nutritional needs must include some questions about their indigenous nutritional practices, and knowledge as well as consumption of mineral& vitamin, and dietary supplements.
2. Develop educational programs for mothers regarding the mineral& vitamin, and dietary supplement use, and assess their knowledge about supplements efficacy, side effects and supplement drug interaction.
3. Self-prescription of dietary supplements should be avoided, especially for and patients, older people, pregnant women, young and people with disabilities should be informed and advised by their doctors or pharmacists for dietary supplementation.
4. It is important that precise and scientifically-based nutritional information is offered to the public via available sources therefore the study results supported the need for health care. Providers training concerning dietary supplements, as women expected that health care professionals always have correct, reliable, and accurate information.
5. Women should be recognized as a priority target group and their nutritional needs should be adequately addressed in national programs. Therefore, the government should develop disseminating sensitive programs targeted women nutrition.
6. Using the findings of this study as a basis for enhancing the capacity to develop and implement nutrition education programs into the curricula of health to improve nutritional and dietary supplements knowledge. Nutrition education should contribute in the reinforcement or modification or abolishment of women folk nutritional habits.
7. The media must play a major role to increase public awareness about vitamin and minerals as well as dietary supplements consumption through the explanation of the usage benefits as well as the overuse dangers. Additionally, posters, magazines, personal interviews and educational advice must be well presented for women about dietary supplements.
8. Governmental actions should address the high consumption of dietary supplements among women through avoidance of misleading commercial advertisements targeting women.
9. Awareness campaigns and seminars should be organized by physicians and nutritionists as well as health care organizations to improve women nutrition and health as well.
10. As the evidence concerning both the benefits and risks of DSs continues to emerge, it is mandatory to prepare evidence-based national strategies on the best way to include this medical care aspect into the health-care delivery systems in Libya.
11. Based on present findings, it could be beneficial to conduct a long-termed research on the DSs usage pattern among all sexes and ages and inclusive of all regions of Libya.