Scholars International Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (SIJTCM)
Volume-3 | Issue-06 | 118-124
Original Research Article
The Profile of Consumers of Food Supplements in Morocco
El Kartouti Abdeslam, Youness Khalfaoui
Published : June 26, 2020
Abstract
Introduction: The market of food supplements is in full expansion, this evolution is due to several factors in particular, nutritional deficiencies, sedentary, lifestyle and lower energy needs. Hence the interest in studying the consumer profiles of these products. Subjects and methods: This is a prospective study conducted over a period of eight months; subjects are recruited at random during our training, on the internet and during medical caravans whose objective is to assess the knowledge and practices of Moroccans so that the doctor can find concrete answers usable during his medical practice. Results: 570 subjects were included, of which 316 subjects (57.1%) declared having already consumed food supplements. The study revealed the female predominance among consumers, as well as the predominance of the 20-30 year age group. Among the reasons for consumption, filling a deficiency comes first with (42.6%), improved a particular function second with (36.4%) and then treating an illness. For the essential expectations of consumers; fighting fatigue and fighting overweight come first with 34.8% and 14.1% respectively. The consumption of CA is most often done on the advice of a doctor with (46.7%) and the pharmacy remains the main distribution channel with (78.7%). Discussion and Conclusion: The regulatory framework for the marketing in Morocco of food supplements requires only the obtaining of a registration certificate. It is thus, the duty of each health professional to judge the benefit - risk of advising or prescribing a food supplement given the risks to which any consumer may be exposed.