Researchers from Monash University, led by Dr. Alice Owen, Principal Research Fellow, analyzed data from the ASPirin in Incidence Reduction in the Elderly (ASPREE) Longitudinal Study of the Elderly (ALSOP).
They evaluated the self-reported use (daily, from time to time, forever) of complementary medicine by healthy people over 70 years in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Capital Australia or southern New South Wales.
In particular, they inquired about the use of fish oil, glucosamine, ginkgo, coenzyme Q10, calcium, zinc, vitamins B, C, D and E, multivitamins, and Chinese medicines or herbs.
“10 961 respondents (74.3%) said they used them daily or from time to time; fish oil (6563 of 14 757 respondents, 44.5%), vitamin D (4995, 33.8%), glucosamine (3940, 26.7%), and calcium products (3652, 24.7%) were the most common. it was reported, ”Find Owen and colleagues.
Complementary drugs were used with larger proportions of women (6637 of 8068, 82.3%) than men (4324 of 6689, 64.6%) and people with more than 12 years of education (4418 of 5838, 75.7% ) than of less educated people (6542 of 8918, 73.3%).
“The proportion of complementary medicine users who reported a history of depression (987 of 4053, 24.4%) or osteoarthritis (3060 of 5240, 58.4%) was greater than for people who did not use (depression, 264 of 1347, 19.6%; osteoarthritis, 705 of 1598, 44.1%; self-reported diabetes was more common among non-users (363 of 3790, 9.6%) than among complementary medicine users (815 of 10 944, 7.4%), ” He contributed to the study.
Marketing concerns?
However, the results prompted the researchers to express concern about the marketing and promotion of complementary drugs.
“Complementary medicines are used by more than half of people in Australia, bringing out-of-pocket health costs to around $ 5.2 billion in 2019,” Owen and his colleagues wrote.
“While complementary therapies are generally considered safe, their widespread use by older people, who have a higher burden of disease, higher medical costs, and low or fixed incomes, is raise questions about their marketing and promotion. “
Carl Gibson, President of Complementary Medicines Australia’s (CMA) top business trading group, responded: “The main findings of the study are based on an industry study of CMAs with 7 out of 10 people regularly using supportive medications to help their health and wellbeing. Prevention is better than cure.
“One third of Australians who use adjuvants do so to manage the symptoms of chronic disease, helping with pain and discomfort, arthritis, asthma, depression or epilepsy. -sugar.
“Product marketing and promotion is critical to informing and guiding consumers to the latest and greatest products, helping consumers make an informed choice.
“$ 1 spent on prevention today is better than $ 10 on disease control tomorrow.”