Evangelia Tsartsou1, Nikolaos Proutsos2, Iakovos Papadopoulos3, Vangelis Tzouvelekas4, Elias Castanas5, Marilena Kampa6. 1. Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes University Campus, 71013, Heraklion, Greece. 2. Hellenic Agricultural Organization DEMETER, Athens, Greece. 3. Hellenic Forest Directorate, Chalkidiki, Greece. 4. Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Crete, Rethymno, Greece. 5. Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes University Campus, 71013, Heraklion, Greece. castanas@uoc.gr. 6. Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes University Campus, 71013, Heraklion, Greece. kampam@uoc.gr.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The main objective of the present study was to investigate the attitudes among a sample of educated Greek consumers toward the use of dietary supplements (DS) and functional foods (FF) given that attitudes and behaviors as regards DS/FF have not been sufficiently evaluated in Southern Europe, where their penetration is lower as compared to northern countries. METHOD: An online questionnaire was completed by 358 individuals (n = 358, 55.6% females, 44.4% males, and 82% of the total with higher education). Questionnaire reliability was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient while independence among qualitative variables was assayed by Pearson's chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test. The different groups of questions were analyzed by factor analysis, with principal component analysis and Varimax rotation, applied after a factor analysis and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy test. Finally, a hierarchical cluster analysis based on Ward's method, using the squared Euclidean distance as a measure, was performed in order to identify and classify cases. RESULTS: Our results revealed that the majority of responders were aware of the principles of healthy eating, considering DS/FF as valid additives conferring beneficial effects. A surprising finding is that consumers, independently of the use of DS/FF, tend to prepare food at home and to adhere strongly to the Mediterranean diet and its principles. In addition, they express a certain degree of wariness as to product labeling and health claims, following instead the recommendations of health professionals and scientific evidence. Finally, they prefer to purchase DS/FF from pharmacies. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide valuable data concerning active Greek consumers' attitudes toward these relative new products, which could be extended to other Mediterranean and South European populations.
PURPOSE: The main objective of the present study was to investigate the attitudes among a sample of educated Greek consumers toward the use of dietary supplements (DS) and functional foods (FF) given that attitudes and behaviors as regards DS/FF have not been sufficiently evaluated in Southern Europe, where their penetration is lower as compared to northern countries. METHOD: An online questionnaire was completed by 358 individuals (n = 358, 55.6% females, 44.4% males, and 82% of the total with higher education). Questionnaire reliability was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient while independence among qualitative variables was assayed by Pearson's chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test. The different groups of questions were analyzed by factor analysis, with principal component analysis and Varimax rotation, applied after a factor analysis and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy test. Finally, a hierarchical cluster analysis based on Ward's method, using the squared Euclidean distance as a measure, was performed in order to identify and classify cases. RESULTS: Our results revealed that the majority of responders were aware of the principles of healthy eating, considering DS/FF as valid additives conferring beneficial effects. A surprising finding is that consumers, independently of the use of DS/FF, tend to prepare food at home and to adhere strongly to the Mediterranean diet and its principles. In addition, they express a certain degree of wariness as to product labeling and health claims, following instead the recommendations of health professionals and scientific evidence. Finally, they prefer to purchase DS/FF from pharmacies. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide valuable data concerning active Greek consumers' attitudes toward these relative new products, which could be extended to other Mediterranean and South European populations.
Entities:
Keywords:
Consumer FF knowledge and awareness; Health maintenance; Healthy eating habits; Scientific evidence of DS/FF health claims
Authors: María Gutierrez-Salcedo; Manuel Parras-Rosa; Francisco José Torres-Ruiz; Manuela Vega-Zamora Journal: Nutrients Date: 2021-01-29 Impact factor: 5.717