The majority of respondents (85 percent) to a recent Women In Optometry Pop-Up Poll shared that nutritional supplements are a regular part of their routine. Another 14 percent said that they do occasionally, while just 2 percent did not currently take them at all.
Of the respondents who said that they do take supplements, 65 percent take a multivitamin, 64 percent said a specific vitamin or complex and 66 percent consume a non-vitamin/mineral product such as a green tea, fish oil, glucosamine, flax seed, etc. Vitamins B, C and D, iron, calcium, lutein, zeaxanthin, chlorophyll and collagen were among some of the specifics named by respondents.
Eighty-four percent said that they take vitamins and/or nutritional supplements for their overall health and wellness. There were a number of other factors they included as reasons, as well.
- Immunity: 39 percent
- Anti-aging benefits: 31 percent
- Energy: 25 percent
- Ocular health/dry eye: 25 percent
- Heart health: 24 percent
- Bone health: 20 percent
- Ocular health/AMD: 18 percent
- Pain: 11 percent
More than half (56 percent) of respondents sell nutritional supplements, and another 30 percent do not currently sell them.
Eighty percent of respondents to this poll were women ODs; 11 percent were male ODs.
Some poll participants shared additional comments as included below.