Use of Dietary Supplements and Perceived Knowledge among Adults Living with Fibromyalgia in Norway: A Cross-Sectional Study, 2022, Kvael et al

Abstract

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a complex medical condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. To date, no gold standard treatment has been developed, and persons with FMS often seek alternative methods to control their symptoms, such as dietary supplements (DS). This study aimed to describe the use of DS in persons living with FMS and examine the associations between the use of DS and its potential predictors.

We recruited a convenience sample of 504 participants (≥18 years) living with FMS. The main outcome variables included estimated expenditure on DS in the last 12 months in Norwegian kroner (NOK) and the differences between the groups of users and non-users of DS. Of the 504 participants, 430 reported having used DS, and the mean amount of money spent in the previous year was determined to be NOK 2300.

The most common DS reported were vitamin D, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. The predictors of being a DS user were high education, high self-reported knowledge of DS but low overall knowledge of health claims. Users of DS marketed for muscles/joints appear to spend more money on DS. The increasing availability of DS and aggressive advertising in the media through health claims stipulate the need for interventions that lead to informed decisions about DS.

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/1/5/htm

 

If people taking dietary supplements had high education then it suggests that they may have higher levels of disposable income than people with poor education. If money is particularly tight then people are surely much less likely to consider spending money on dietary supplements.

 

I have not looked at the paper itself, but one might expect time post onset and severity to also link to taking supplements.

Over the course of my ME, my maximum level of taking supplements was between two and four years into the condition, when I was trying everything and anything, but once I went part time at work the cost of alternative approaches, as @Arnie Pye suggested, became much harder to sustain. Also over time I have become less willing to squander limited resources on poorly or un- evidenced treatments.

As my health has deteriorated such that sustaining a healthy balanced diet became harder, also with difficulty getting to the doctor’s surgery for injections for my ongoing B12 deficiency (tried several times to get them provided on a domiciliary basis, but failed), I have started taking some supplements again not to treat my condition but to attempt to compensate for my poorer diet and limited access to medical support.

Similar factors may come into play in relation to Fibro.

 

At least these aren't some arcane supplements.

Magnesium if skin absorbed and by-passing the gut (diarrhea, cramping) may be useful for pain.

 

I was wondering what is normal for any Norwegian population, particularly in relation to how far north they live and depending on the time of year, particularly with vitamin D.

 

Some people with chronic illnesses have malabsorption issues, but how many get tested for deficiencies before they start taking supplements and assume they need them? I took mg/taurine injections weekly for almost 2 years. I went from feeling out of breath, shaky with a stiff gait to almost 90% improved. I was also deficient in B12, iron and vitamin D.

 

2300 NOK equals 260 USD or 330 CAD which translates to 22 USD a month which is fairly reasonable in my view. This is for FM patients. I would suspect ME patients spend more- that would be interesting to formally investigate this.

 

When I was spending a maximum on dietary supplements in a vain attempt to treat my ME, some 25 years ago, I was spending (under the direction of a nutritionalist) some £80 a month, which using the Bank of England inflation calculator is the equivalent of about £160 a month now.

So taking this inflation calculation into account I was spending the equivalent of some 1,900 NOK a month or 22,800 NOK a year, so I agree with @Milo 2,300 NOK a year does not sound that much in comparison.

Now, I spend under £10 a month on B12, D, C and a generic multivitamin. The B12 is a self-prescribed attempt to manage an identified but not currently medically managed deficiency and the others are a poorly informed attempt to compensate for an inconsistent diet.

At the levels of expenditure in the study it is surely hard to distinguish cultural factors from attempts to manage a medical issue.

 

I am sorry for not including the £ and € value…

 

Not a problem, I think most people on this side of the pond have a rough idea of the relative values of the € or the £ to the $, but for me the NOK is a mystery that requires currency converters.

 

Is Norway not part of the European Union?

 

Norway is in the European Economic Area, so it has to follow most EU rules, but it is not a full member of the EU. Having said that not every country in the European Union uses the €; the UK continued with £ whilst still in the EU, and Denmark continues with the Danish Krone.

 

I remember the 90s before the internet when I spent 0$ and my health improved 90% on its own.

I took iron for low ferritin, so one supplement.