4.7 Article

Testing the Impact of Familiarity with Health Benefits Information on Dietary Supplement Choice in Pregnancy: An Online Choice Experiment

Journal

NUTRIENTS
Volume 14, Issue 9, Pages -

Publisher

MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/nu14091707

Keywords

dietary supplements; folic acid; iodine; nutrition knowledge; discrete choice experiment; health benefits; awareness; pregnancy; nutrient recommendations; food choice

Funding

  1. Women's and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Adelaide
  2. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
  3. National Health and Medical Research Council

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This study investigates the factors influencing the importance of nutrients when choosing dietary supplement products for pregnancy among pregnant women. The findings suggest that prior awareness of health benefits and providing information on health benefits at the point-of-purchase are effective in increasing the importance of folate and iodine.
To help meet the increased requirements for critical nutrients during and around pregnancy, supplementation with essential nutrients is recommended. This study aims to determine how the previous awareness of nutrient health benefits and/or the provision of this information influences the importance placed on nutrients (folate, iodine, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D) when choosing between dietary supplement products for pregnancy. Discrete choice experiment data were collected as part of a cross-sectional online survey administered to 857 pregnant women living in Australia. Four segments of women were identified that differ in their preference criteria when choosing among dietary supplement products for pregnancy. When choosing between products, the reinforcement of perceived health benefits (i.e., showing information on health benefits to those already aware of the benefits) was most effective at increasing the importance of folate (in all segments) and iodine (in two segments, 63% of the sample). Neither prior awareness of health benefits alone nor information provided at the point-of-purchase without prior awareness were enough to increase the importance of folate. Our findings suggest a need for simultaneous strategies that (1) provide information on health benefits before purchase and (2) ensure that information on health benefits is available at the point-of-purchase.

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