Eureka! Institutional Repository

Introduction: Food supplements are defined as foodstuffs that aim to enrich the normal diet. They are concentrated sources of nutrients or other substance with nutritive or physiological effects, either alone or in combination. They are available in the market in dose form, more particularly in forms like capsules, pastilles, tablets, pills and other similar forms, as well as in sachets of powder, ampoules of liquids, drop dispensing bottles and other relative forms of liquids and powders designed to be taken in measured small unit quantities. Objective: The purpose of this study is to be investigated the breadth of the food supplements’ use among the general population as well as the factors that determine their use. The knowledge of consumers of all ages on dietary supplements is also explored, whether or not food supplements are authorized by EOF. Methodology: The research involved the completion of 1,200 questionnaires on nutritional supplements by people of different ages in the regions of Athens, Volos and Thessaloniki. This data was then tabulated with Excel 2010 for editing and creating graphs of results. This was followed by statistical analysis and graphic representation through the spss statistical program using the frequency analysis method (x2) as well as through ANOVA. Conclusion This work has shown that income, fitness frequency and level of education are directly related to dietary supplements ( DP ). Instead, BMI was found not to be associated with DP. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the level of education influences medical follow-up and medical / hematological examinations prior to receiving a DP. Men receive a higher rate of protein than women, while women receive a higher rate of iron (Fe) than men. Also, a large percentage of people did not know what the dietary supplements were, and they considered it to be only preparations that are widely used in gyms and various sports (eg protein, creatine, etc.).