OCTOBER 21, 2021
WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, today revealed initial findings from its 2021 Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements.
The survey’s key findings show vitamin D use significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic; that Hispanics are most likely to report a change in their supplement routine, and that four in 5 Americans use supplements – a new high-water mark in supplement use.
“Supplement usage among Americans has steadily increased in the more than twenty years CRN has conducted the survey,” said Brian Wommack, CRN’s senior vice president of communications. “With 80% of Americans now using supplements, these products are now mainstream and broadly accepted by the American public. Just as important, 79% of Americans believe the dietary supplement industry is trustworthy, a jump of 5 percentage points from 2020.”
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Over the past 12 months, vitamin D usage significantly increased since 2020 (52% vs. 42% in 2020), as has zinc (22% vs. 15%) and vitamin C (40% vs. 35%). The increase in usage of these supplements is particularly notable, as each has been mentioned in the past year as supplements that could be helpful for combatting COVID-19 and boosting overall immunity.
Further, 50% of supplement users report a change to their supplement routine since the COVID-19 pandemic started, and 55% of those who reported a change indicated that it included adding new supplements to their existing routine. Hispanic Americans were most likely to report a change in their supplement routine, significantly more so than white and Asian American/Pacific Islander respondents.
Conducted annually since 2000, the CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements serves as the leading resource for statistics on usage of dietary supplements. The 2021 survey was fielded for CRN by Ipsos August 20–26, 2021. The survey was conducted online in English and included a national sample of 3,089 adults aged 18 and older living in the United States, including 2,421 adults who consume dietary supplements seasonally, occasionally, or regularly.
This year’s survey includes oversamples of Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander respondents to deliver deeper insights into these groups’ motivations, attitudes, and purchasing habits around supplement use. The complete set of consumer survey data is available for purchase by both CRN members and nonmembers.
About the Council for Responsible Nutrition
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 180+ dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and companies providing services to those manufacturers and suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and food in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety, our manufacturer and supplier members also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN’s Code of Ethical Principles. For more information, visit www.crnusa.org. Follow us on Twitter @CRN_Supplements and LinkedIn.
About Ipsos
Ipsos is one of the largest market research companies in the world, present in 90 markets and employing 18,000 people. Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. Our 75 business solutions are based on primary data coming from our surveys, social media monitoring, and qualitative or observational techniques. “Game Changers” – our tagline – summarizes our ambition to help our 5,000 clients navigate with confidence our world of rapid change. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).