Findings from the “Life…supplemented” Healthcare Professionals (HCP) Impact Study reveal that orthopedic specialists, cardiologists and dermatologists take and recommend dietary supplements to their patients both for overall wellness and reasons associated with their particular specialties. According to the study, practitioners within each specialty also believe the usage of dietary supplements among consumers is mainstream and more popular today than it was five years ago.

“We learned from the 2007 HCP Impact Study that physicians and nurses are taking supplements as part of a proactive wellness regimen that also includes healthy diet and regular exercise,” said Judy Blatman, senior vice president of communications at the Washington, D.C.-based Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), which manages the campaign. “With the second year of this study, we were able to dive into specific specialties and find similar trends, further demonstrating the important role for doctors in incorporating dietary supplements as an integral part of wellness.”

The new study builds on the results of the 2007 HCP Impact Study, which showed 72% of physicians and 89% of nurses personally use dietary supplements and three-quarters of physicians (79%) and nurses (82%) recommend dietary supplements to their patients.

Following are highlights of the 2008 HCP Impact Study by specialty:

Orthopedic Specialists: Nearly three-quarters (73%) of orthopedic specialists use dietary supplements and 63% believe the use of dietary supplements among consumers is mainstream. Eighty-six percent believe patients’ usage of dietary supplements is higher today than it was five years ago. The top reasons orthopedic specialists personally use dietary supplements include: Overall health and wellness benefits (43%), joint health (29%), heart health (26%), bone health (25%) and flu/colds (22%).

Nearly all orthopedic specialists who take supplements recommend them to their patients (94%), yet 82% of orthopedic specialists who do not take supplements still recommend them to their patients. In total, 91% of orthopedic specialists recommend supplements to their patients, and the top reasons include: Bone health (75%), joint health (73%), musculoskeletal pain (53%), overall health and wellness benefits (25%) and lower cholesterol (13%).

Cardiologists: More than half (57%) of cardiologists use dietary supplements and 53% believe the use of dietary supplements among consumers is mainstream. Seventy-four percent believe patients’ usage of dietary supplements is higher today than it was five years ago. The top reasons cardiologists use dietary supplements include: Overall health and wellness benefits (32%), heart health (29%), lower cholesterol (20%), energy (17%), and joint health and bone health (16% each).

Most cardiologists who take supplements recommend them to their patients (86%), whereas 54% of cardiologists who do not take supplements recommend them to their patients. Among the 72% of total cardiologists recommending supplements, the top reasons for doing so include: Lower cholesterol (58%), heart health (55%), maintain healthy cholesterol (36%), overall health and wellness benefits (30%) and bone health (22%).

Dermatologists: Three-quarters (75%) of dermatologists use dietary supplements and 60% believe the use of dietary supplements among consumers is mainstream. Eighty-three percent believe patients’ usage of dietary supplements is higher today than it was five years ago. The top reasons dermatologists use dietary supplements include: Overall health and wellness benefits (42%); bone health (24%); skin, hair and nails (16%); heart health (15%) and anti-aging (14%).

Roughly four in five dermatologists who take supplements recommend them to their patients (79%), but only 28% of dermatologists who do not take supplements recommend them to their patients. Overall, 66% of dermatologists recommend supplements, and the top reasons include: Skin, hair and nails (81%); overall health and wellness benefits (30%); bone health (25%); anti-aging (20%); immune health and heart health (12% each).