Fish oil, multivitamins among top dietary supplements used by consumers

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Among people who use dietary supplements, the most popular products in 2010 were fish oil, multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium and Co Q10, according to a survey released Tuesday by ConsumerLab.com.

Women were much more likely than men to have taken vitamin D, calcium or probiotics. Men were more likely than women to have taken Co Q10, herbs and extracts, glucosamine/chondroitin, vitamin E, resveratrol, amino acids, and nutrition drinks and powders.

Use of vitamin D surged in 2010 to 56.2% of those surveyed, up from 47.9% in 2009 and 36.9% in 2008. Fish oil continued its rise in popularity, used by 75.7% of those surveyed, up from 74% in 2009.

Multivitamin use declined to 70.1% last year from 72.0% in 2009 and 73.8% in 2008. Younger adults, however, were more likely to have used a multivitamin than older adults; 73% of people ages 35 to 44 years used a multivitamin, compared with 67.9% of those ages 75 to 84 years. Younger adults also were more likely than older adults to have used amino acids, nutrition/protein drinks and powders, green tea, nutrition bars and iron.