Vitamin Shoppe survey finds most adults take vitamins or supplements

NORTH BERGEN, N.J. — A survey conducted on behalf of The Vitamin Shoppe and released Wednesday found that 60% of adults currently take a vitamin or supplement.

Of those who take vitamins, the survey results reported that more than 70% of respondents said they feel more confident about their health when they are taking a vitamin. Multivitamins are the most popular supplement, with 75% of respondents reportedly regularly taking the supplement. Other top supplements by those who take vitamins were: vitamin D (52%), vitamin C (49%), calcium (45%), B vitamins (43%), fish oil (42%) and iron (25%).

Starting on a vitamin regimen was not an impulse decision, Vitamin Shoppe found. Nearly half (46%) began taking a vitamin based on the recommendation of an expert, one-third (34%) wanted to improve their health altogether and about 1-in-10 (9%) wanted to feel better about themselves.

The Vitamin Shoppe survey found that only 4-in-10 (38%) of moms and dads take a daily vitamin, compared with 56% of nonparents. Even fewer parents pass on this habit to their children. Only one-third (34%) of kids get a daily vitamin.

For those that do not take supplements, 43% feel they do not need vitamins with a balanced diet, 22% think they would never remember to take them, and others feel vitamins are too expensive (9%).

The survey was conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of The Vitamin Shoppe, and polled 1,000 U.S. adults on their vitamin and supplement habits.