Dietary Supplements Use among Medical Students of Bangladesh

Authors

  • Fatema Johora Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Army Medical College Bogura, Bogura cantonment
  • Satabdi Ghosh Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College & Hospital, Enayetpur, Sirajganj
  • Jannatul Ferdoush Professor & Head, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, BGC Trust Medical College, Chattogram
  • Asma Akter Abbasy Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Brahmanbaria Medical College, Brahmanbaria
  • Tarafder Shahniam Ahmed Prof. (CC) & Head, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Army Medical College Bogura, , Bogura cantonment
  • Asiya Ferdous Lecturer, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Jamalpur Medical College, Jamalpur
  • Fatiha Tasmin Jeenia Associate professor, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Chattogram International Medical College
  • Kazi Sabiha Assistant professor, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, United Medical College, Dhaka
  • Mst Arifa Shirin Associate professor, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College, Bogura
  • Sabiha Mahboob Assistant professor & Head, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Armed Forces Medical College, Dhaka
  • Syeda Rubayat Hilmi Associate professor, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Z.H. Sikder Women’s Medical College, Dhaka
  • Priyanka Moitra Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Manikganj Medical College, Manikganj
  • Mohsena Aktar Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Comilla Medical College
  • Sarmin Sultana Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Gazi Medical College, Khulna
  • Mithun Chandro Bhowmik Assistant professor, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Dinajpur Medical college, Dinajpur
  • Nargis Akhter Choudhury Assistant Professor & Head, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Habiganj Medical College, Habiganj
  • Nazla Shamsuddhoha Assistant professor, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Medical College for Women and Hospital, Dhaka
  • A B M Masud Jahid Associate Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology and therapeutics, Army Medical College Cumilla

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjme.v16i2.83119

Keywords:

Dietary supplements, medical students, mineral, vitamin

Abstract

Introduction: The use of dietary supplements (DS) is increasing globally. Intense debate surrounds the benefits of individual high-dose micronutrient supplementation among well-nourished individuals. Demographic and lifestyle factors such as monthly income, educational status, sedentary lifestyle and smoking status were reported to correlate with dietary supplement use. Dietary supplement use among medical students is of particular research interest as they are the future prescribers. Objective: To find out the prevalence and associated factors of DS use among the medical students. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics of 18 medical colleges of Bangladesh including both government and non-government medical colleges. A structurred questionnaire survey was conducted among the 3rd year and 4th year MBBS students of studied medical colleges who agreed to participate the study, and total 2629 medical students participated in this study. Results: The overall prevalence of DS use was 39.25%. The mostused DS were Vitamin C (31.41%) and multivitamins-minerals (24.92%). In 34.30% cases, DS were recommended by physician. Academic knowledge (58.72%) was the most common source of information, followed by prior experience (44.08%). The most common reason for taking DS was for improvement of overall health (41.47%). Supplement intake was significantly associated with gender (p = 0.015), marital status (p = 0.007), nationality (p = <0.00001) and types of medical colleges (p =0.032). Female students (41.00%), married (50.38%), foreign nationality (49.52%) and students studying in government medical colleges (41.00%) took significantly more DS. Conclusion: The prevalence of supplement use was among medical students was similar to values reported previously in the literature. It would be better to review the undergraduate medical education in regards of DS for encouraging better and safer prescribing of supplements in future.

BJME, Volume-16, Issue-02, July 2025: 101-114

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Published

2025-07-20

How to Cite

Johora, F., Ghosh, S., Ferdoush, J., Abbasy, A. A., Ahmed, T. S., Ferdous, A., … Jahid, A. B. M. M. (2025). Dietary Supplements Use among Medical Students of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Education, 16(2), 101–114. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjme.v16i2.83119

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2025)

Section

Original Articles

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