CRN Stands Behind Government Study on Supplement Usage

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN; Washington, DC) is hailing the publication of a recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), which concludes that U.S. dietary supplement usage steadily increased from 1988 to 2006.

“We’re encouraged to see the government confirm what we’ve seen about dietary supplement usage-that it’s growing,” says CRN president and CEO Steve Mister. “Sales are up for this category, and our own consumer research has demonstrated steady usage by approximately two-thirds of U.S. adults-for the past seven years.”

Besides tracking overall dietary supplement usage from 1988 to 2006, the CDCP study tracks growing use of three major ingredients: vitamin D, folic acid, and calcium.

“This report indicates high use of dietary supplements in the U.S. adult population during the past 20 years,” wrote the study’s author, “with over 40% of adults using one or more dietary supplements during 1988–1994, and over one-half of adults using supplements during 2003–2006.”