Attitude survey and consumption of health food among dialysis patients

A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the relation between attitudes and consumption of health food among dialysis patients. In 2001, 108 patients were surveyed and an additional 116 patients were surveyed in 2003. Patients with an interest in health foods comprised 38.9% in 2001 and 44.8% in 2003. Then, patients consuming health foods before or at the time of investigation comprised 24.1% in 2001, and 42.2% in 2003, showing an inxcrease within 2 years. However, patients who consulted a dietitian before consuming any health food decreased, from 10.2% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2003. Patients who regarded health food as medicine comprised 13.8%, the food were 62.9%, likewise, in the supplement, the medicine were 37.1% and the food were 31.9%. In 2003, there are rather more patients who began to consume health foods compared with patients who stopped consuming health foods compared to those in 2001. Even when a product changed, there were patient who continued to consume that product. They are affected by information received daily. Health food products, supplements and so on are introduced through mass media and sold to a wide audience. However, as for dialysis patient's using these products easily, there are concerns that there may be accompanying risks. Physicians often know that these products are being consumed by the blood test result and or weight increase in patients who do not consult before consuming the product. Because these products sometimes are not reflected in test result, however, we should carefully monitor the mass media information presented in daily life and to be able to advise the dialysis patient regarding their safety.