Collagen for the Skin? Melatonin for Sleep? Who Takes Supplements and Why

Dietary supplements have grown significantly in popularity as a means to compensate for certain nutritional deficiencies in our diets. Despite this surge, a substantial portion of the population remains on the sidelines, influenced either by a lack of awareness or a deliberate choice against their use.

At Youthbites, we sought to delve into the nuances of these consumption patterns. Who are the people incorporating supplements into their daily routines? What drives their decisions? And do these patterns vary across different demographics? To uncover these insights, we conducted a comprehensive survey in 2021 focused on dietary supplement usage among the populace. Adhering to our core value of transparency, we are excited to unveil the results. The study, carried out in 2021, surveyed 190 individuals: 44% were women and 56% men, all above the age of 30.

A key goal of the study was to assess the penetration of supplements into people's habits. When asked if they supplemented their diet with supplements, 36% said yes, while 64% said no.

As expected, significant differences in consumption habits were observed by gender and age. Regarding gender, 46% of women reported regularly using supplements, compared to 29% of men. By age, the 40-55 and 56-70 age groups were more likely to turn to supplements, with usage rates close to 40%, dropping to 36% among those aged 31-40 and further to 28% among those over 70. When analyzing the data by age and gender, it was observed that women between 41-55 were the only group with a majority using supplements, with 55% using them regularly versus 45% who do not. Among men, the highest usage was recorded in the 56-70 age group, with 40% affirming use.

The study also explored the main motivations for supplementing the diet with supplements, finding that these vary between men and women. Among men, the expectation of boosting energy levels was predominant, followed by hair loss and sleep improvement. Conversely, women indicated aging as their primary concern, followed by hair loss and skin care.

Lastly, we also asked respondents which products they tended to consume most frequently. Various vitamins (D, C, E, etc.) were significantly more popular, used by 72% of respondents, while collagen took second place, consumed by 28% of people, and melatonin and Omega 3 each by 25%.

This analysis is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long series of studies Youthbites will provide to deepen understanding of the supplements universe.