With an increased emphasis on nutrition as a factor in disease prevention and health promotion, dietary supplement use among the United States population is growing (ADA, 1994, 1998.) Medical evidence suggests only certain subgroups of people need dietary supplements, for example, increased iron needed for pregnant women, special formulas for infants and small children, folate for women of child bearing years, and calcium for adolescent girls and young women. Yet, many people self-prescribe dietary supplements for various reasons including concern about the adequacy of their diet, a desire to be healthier, or to treat or prevent an illness (ADA, 1994).
