The Effect Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Interest In Supplemental Food In Turkey: A Google Trends Analysis Study

Year 2024, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 81 - 87, 03.09.2024

Pınar Zehra Davarcı , Miraç Çağlayan , Galip Ekuklu

https://doi.org/10.53811/ijtcmr.1376015

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on consumers' interest in dietary supplements in Turkey using Google Trends analysis.
Methods: Search volumes of 30 selected search terms were evaluated on Google Trends between 18.03.2018 and 15.03.2022.
Results: Among the search terms during the study period, the term with the highest search volume was vitamin B12. Search volumes for biotin, probiotics, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, iron, prebiotics, fish oil, collagen, vitamin A, multivitamins, vitamin E, lipoic acid, zinc, glutathione, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin D, iodine, melatonin, propolis, vitamin K, bromelain, and curcumin were found to be statistically significantly higher after the declaration of the Covid-19 pandemic (p<0.005).
Conclusion: This study demonstrates an increased interest in dietary supplements in Turkey.

Keywords

Covid-19, Dietary Supplements, Google Trends

Ethical Statement

Çalışmamız etik kurul onayı gerektirmeyen bir çalışmadır.

Supporting Institution

Yok

Thanks

Yok

References

• Food & Drug Administration. FDA 101: Dietary Supplements. [Internet]. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/fda-101-dietary-supplements. Last access date: 15.09.2023).
• Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry. Turkish Food Codex Communiqué on Food Supplements, Communiqué No: 2013/49.
• Özdoğan AGY, Yardımcı DH., Özçelik PDAÖ. The Nutritional Habits Of The University Students Living in Dormitories. Blak Sea. 2012;1:139-49.
• Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Health. Besin Destekleri Kullanılmalı mı? Tek, N. A., Pekcan, G. Klasmat Press, Ankara 2008.
• Kanak E, Öztürk S. Evaluation of food supplements usage habits. NOHU J. Eng. Sci. 2021;10(1):168-77.
• Van der Horst K, Siegrist M. Vitamin and mineral supplement users. Do they have healthy or unhealthy dietary behaviours? Appetite. 2011;57(3):758-64.
• Rico LG, Perez JL, Marini JM. Content and daily intake of copper, zinc, lead, cadmium, and mercury from dietary supplements in Mexico. Food Chem Toxicol. 2007;45(9):1599–05
• Steyn NP, Labadarios D, Nel JH, Lee RH. Development and validation of a questionnaire to test knowledge and practices of dietitians regarding dietary supplements. Nutrition. 2005;21(1):51–58.
• Kim HS, Han H, Keen CL. Vitamin and mineral supplement use by healthy teenagers in Korea: motivating factors and dietary consequences. Nutrition. 2001;17(5): 373–80.
• Ashar BH, Seymour RS. Advising patients who use dietary supplements. Am J Med. 2008;121(2): 91-7.
• Miller CK, Russell T. Knowledge of dietary supplement label information among female supplement users. Patıent Educ Couns. 2004;52(3): 291–96.
• Adams KK, Baker WL, Sobieraj DM. Myth Busters: Dietary Supplements and COVID-19. Ann. Pharmacother. 2020;54:820–26
• de Faria Coelho-Ravagnani C, Corgosinho FC, Sanches FFZ, Prado CMM, Laviano A, Mota JF. Dietary recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nutr Rev. 2021;79(4): 382-93.
• Calder PC, Carr AC, Gombart AF, Eggersdorfer M. Optimal nutritional status for a well-functioning immune system is an important factor to protect against viral infections. Nutrients. 2020;12(4): 1181
• Della P, Nicolas & Huang, H. "Constructing Consumer Sentiment Index for U.S. Using Google Searches," Working Papers 2009-2026.
• Hyunyoung C., Hal V. Predicting The Present with Google Trends.Economic Record. 2012:2-9
• Atalay D, Erge HS. Dietary Supplements and Their Effects on Health. Food and Health. 2018;4(2):98-111.
• Rautiainen S, Manson JE, Lichtenstein AH, Sesso HD. Dietary supplements and disease prevention- a global overview. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2016;12(7):407-20.
• Kazaz A. Gençyürek Erdoğan M. Deceptive element in Food Supplement Advertisements. e-Gifder. 2020;8(2):930-60.
• Scarmozzino F, Visioli F. COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown modified dietary habits of almost half the population in an Italian sample. Foods. 2020;9(5):675
• Piekara A, Krzywonos M, Kopacz M. Dietary Supplements Intended for Children--Proposed Classification of Products Available on the Market. J Diet Suppl. 2022;19(4):431-42.
• Gıda Takviyesi ve Beslenme Derneği. 5. Gıda Takviyesi ve Beslenme Araştırması. [Internet]. Available at: https://gtbd.org.tr. (Last access date: 15.09.2023).
• Velioğlu Er, E. Gıda Takviyeleri Kullanımının Belirlenmesi Üzerine Bir Araştırma, Trakya Örneği. Thesis. 2019.
• World Health Organization. Anemia. [Internet]. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/anaemia. (Last access date: 15.09.2023).
• Tek NA, Koçak T. The Role Of The Nutrition in Supporting The Immune System in Combating Coronavirus Disease. Gazi Sağlık Bilim. Derg. 2020;5(1):18-45.
• Eskici G. COVID-19 Pandemia: Nutrition Recommendations for Quarantine. Anatol Clin. 2020;25(Special Issue on COVID 19):124-29.
• Aksoy Y. The role of glutathione in antioxidant mechanism. T Klin Tıp Bilimleri. 2002;22(4):442-48
• Karaca EG. Lipoik Asit: Evrensel Antioksidan. AKÜ FEMÜBİD. 2008;8(1):231-45.
• Hikisz P, Bernasinska-Slomczewska J. Beneficial Properties of Bromelain. Nutrients. 2021;13(12):4313.
• Peng Y, Ao M, Dong B et al. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Curcumin in the Inflammatory Diseases: Status, Limitations and Countermeasures. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2021;15:4503-25.
• Hargreaves IR, Mantle D. COVID-19, Coenzyme Q10 and Selenium. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021;1327:161-68.
• Braakhuis A. Evidence on the Health Benefits of Supplemental Propolis. Nutrients. 2019;11(11):2705.
• Capozzi A, Scambia G, Lello S. Calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K2, and magnesium supplementation and skeletal health. Maturitas. 2020;140:55-63.
• Bolke L, Schlippe G, Gerß J, Voss W. A Collagen Supplement Improves Skin Hydration, Elasticity, Roughness, and Density: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Blind Study. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2494.
• Thompson KG, Kim N. Dietary supplements in dermatology: A review of the evidence for zinc, biotin, vitamin D,