Los objetivos de este análisis son: caracterizar los suplementos alimenticios (SA) de mayor consumo, así como explorar la asociación del consumo SA con características sociodemográficas, antropométricas, y anemia, en una muestra representativa de mujeres, entre 12 a 49 años de edad (n=15,936), incluidas en la Encuesta Nacional de Nutrición, de 1999, en México. Se usó un modelo de regresión logística múltiple para calcular probabilidades (P) de consumo de SA, según características a nivel individual y del hogar, incluyendo términos de interacción ajustando por diseño de la Encuesta. Los SA más consumidos fueron el grupo de vitaminas con minerales (36.7%) y el de vitaminas (34.3%). La mayor probabilidad estadísticamente significativa (p<0.05) de consumo de SA se encontró con estar casada (P=0.16; p<0.001), ser derechohabiente de servicios de salud (P=0.18; p=0.010), tener un nivel de educación superior (P=0.20; p=0.004) y vivir en la región sur del país (P=0.20; p=0.003). La anemia modificó la relación entre consumo de SA y nivel socioeconómico (p=0.016). Estos resultados sugieren que el consumo de SA está relacionado con mejores condiciones de vida en mujeres mexicanas. Por otro lado, en la región sur hubo más probabilidad de uso de SA comparada con región Norte, lo cual podría estar relacionado con recibir suplementos por medio de programas de ayuda alimentaria. En el presente análisis no pudimos explorar esta posibilidad. Esta información podría servir de base para evaluar tendencias, así como riesgos y beneficios en la salud en esta población del uso de suplementos alimenticios.
Factors associated with nutritional supplement consumption in Mexican women aged 12 to 49 years. The objectives of this analysis are to identify the types of nutritional supplements (NS) commonly used and explore the associations between NS consumption and socio-demographic characteristics, nutritional status, measured as BMI, and anemia in a nationally representative sample Mexican women aged 12 to 49 years (n=15,936) who participated in the Mexican National Nutrition Survey in 1999. Data on NS consumption and the other characteristics of interest were collected. We calculated the probability (P) of supplement consumption using logistic regression. For the statistical analysis characteristics at the individual and household level were included in the statistical models, and adjusted for the study design. Interaction effects were also explored. Multiple mixed vitamin and mineral supplements were the most commonly consumed (36.7%) followed by vitamins only (34.3%). Married women were significantly (p<0.05) more likely (P=0.16; p <0.001) to consume NS compared to unmarried women, as were those with more access to public and private health care (P=0.18; p=0.010), with higher education level (P=0.20; p=0.004) and living in the South region (P=0.20; p=0.003). Anemia modified the association between supplement consumption and socioeconomic status (SES) (p=0.016), non anemic women having greater probabilities of NS consumption. These results suggest that NS use among Mexican women is associated with better living conditions. On the other hand, we also found that women living in the South region, the poorest region of the country, had higher probability of NS consumption compared to the North region. This could be related to participation in food assistance programs; however we were unable to explore this potential explanation. This information will be used to further study trends, risks and health benefits in this population of the use of nutritional supplements.
