Survey: Surge in use among vitamin D, fish oil supplements

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 Q-10, according to a ConsumerLab.com survey.

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 Q-10, 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.