目的: 探討國內中老年人保健食品使用情形與影響其使用以及開始使用的相關因素。 方法: 利用衛生署國民健康局之於1999年與2007進行之兩次「台灣地區中老年身心社會生活狀況長期追蹤調查」資料,連結兩次皆受訪之有效問卷樣本2506人。我們使用問卷中之人口學變項、經濟能力、健康情形、健康生活型態等變項,以描述性統計分析保健食品使用情形,並使用邏輯斯迴歸分析以找出使用及原來沒有使用但後來開始使用保健食品之相關因子。 結果: 任一種保健食品使用比率由1999年時28.7%,至2007年服用比率增加至38.1%。綜合維他命、鈣片、魚油等服用比率增加,維他命E的服用比例降低。女性比男性較易開始使用保健食品的(Odds Ratio=1.94, p<0.001),較年輕之老人(OR=0.58, p<0.05)、教育程度高者(OR=1.78, p<0.001)、居住在城市者(OR=0.58, p<0.001)、沒有吃檳榔者(OR=0.41, p<0.01)、及過去一年會安排健康檢查者(OR=1.38, p<0.001)等,比較會開始服用保健食品。 結論 女性、教育程度高者、經濟滿意度高者與健康生活型態佳者(會運動、無抽菸、沒有吃檳榔者、會進行健康檢查者)服用保健食品情形較高,另外會喝酒者使用情形較高,但與健康情形者無顯著關係。女性、教育程度高者、較年輕的老人、居住在城市者、沒有吃檳榔者及過去一年會安排健康檢查者等比較會開始服用保健食品。
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the use of dietary supplements among the elderly in Taiwan. Methods: Data were derived the longitudinal Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan. After linking the records from the 1999 and 2007 follow-up surveys, a total of 2506 cases were available for analysis. Information of the respondents’ basic demographics, life styles, health behaviors, health status, and dietary supplements uses were analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to determine significant predictors of supplements uses. Results: Percentage of using any dietary supplements increased from 28.7% (in 1999) to 38.1% (in 2007) over the 8-year period among this sample of elders in Taiwan. The uses of multivitamin, calcium, and fish oil also increased, however the uses of herbal and vitamin E decreased over the same period of time. Respondents who were female (OR=1.94, p<0.001), younger (OR=0.58, p<0.05), with higher education levels (OR=1.78, p<0.001), living in city(OR=0.58, p<0.001), not chewing betel nuts (OR=0.41, p<0.01), having health check-ups within past year (OR=1.38, p<0.001) were more likely to initiate the uses of dietary supplements. Conclusions: Older adults, who were female, with high education, higher economic satisfaction, having a worse rating of health, and having better health life styles were more likely to use dietary supplements. Plus, respondents with drinking habits were more likely to use dietary supplements. Concerning the profiling of respondents, who initiated their use of dietary supplements over the period between 1999 and 2007, we found that older adults who are female, with higher education level, younger, living in city, without the habits of betel nut chewing, having health examination within past year are more likely to start using dietary supplements.