Usage of Plant Food Supplements across Six European Countries : Findings from the PlantLIBRA Consumer Survey

BACKGROUND: The popularity of botanical products is on the rise in Europe, with consumers using them to complement their diets or to maintain health, and products are taken in many different forms (e.g. teas, juices, herbal medicinal products, plant food supplements (PFS)). However there is a scarcity of data on the usage of such products at European level. OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview of the characteristics and usage patterns of PFS consumers in six European countries. DESIGN: Data on PFS usage were collected in a cross-sectional, retrospective survey of PFS consumers using a bespoke frequency of PFS usage questionnaire. SUBJECTS/SETTING: A total sample of 2359 adult PFS consumers from Finland, Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom. DATA ANALYSES: Descriptive analyses were conducted, with all data stratified by gender, age, and country. Absolute frequencies, percentages and 95% confidence intervals are reported. RESULTS: Overall, an estimated 18.8% of screened survey respondents used at least one PFS. Characteristics of PFS consumers included being older, well-educated, never having smoked and self-reporting health status as “good or very good”. Across countries, 491 different botanicals were identified in the PFS products used, with Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo), Oenothera biennis (Evening primrose) and Cynara scolymus (Artichoke) being most frequently reported; the most popular dose forms were capsules and pills/tablets. Most consumers used one product and half of all users took single-botanical products. Some results varied across countries. CONCLUSIONS: The PlantLIBRA consumer survey is unique in reporting on usage patterns of PFS consumers in six European countries. The survey highlights the complexity of measuring the intake of such products, particularly at pan-European level. Incorporating measures of the intake of botanicals in national dietary surveys would provide much-needed data for comprehensive risk and benefit assessments at the European level

Contribution à l’étude morphologique, chimique et thérapeutique pour l’espèce Chrysanthemum balsamita L.

Note portant sur l’auteur Note portant sur l’auteur Introduction Chrysanthemum balsamita L. (Famille Asteraceae, sous-famille Tubuliflorae) balsamite, (menthe-coq, menthe de la Sainte-Vierge) originaire de l’Asie de Sud-Ouest, a été amenée en Europe dès l’Antiquité. En Roumanie Ch. b. est cultivée dans les jardins paysans et dans les cimetières comme plante ornementale mais aussi comme plante aromatique et guérissante. Dans la médicine traditionnelle roumaine, la balsamite a été utilisée sous..

Adverse effects of plant food supplements self-reported by consumers in the PlantLIBRA survey involving six European countries

Background: The use of food supplements containing botanicals is increasing in European markets. Although intended to maintain the health status, several cases of adverse effects to Plant Food Supplements (PFS) have been described. Objectives: To describe the self-reported adverse effects collected during the European PlantLIBRA PFS Consumer Survey 2011–2012, with a critical evaluation of the plausibility of the symptomatology reported using data from the literature and from the PlantLIBRA Poisons Centers' survey. Subjects/Setting: From the total sample of 2359 consumers involved in the consumers' survey, 82 subjects reported adverse effects due to a total of 87 PFS. Results: Cases were self-reported, therefore causality was not classified on the basis of clinical evidence, but by using the frequency/strength of adverse effects described in scientific papers: 52 out of 87 cases were defined as possible (59.8%) and 4 as probable (4.6%). Considering the most frequently cited botanicals, eight cases were due to Valeriana officinalis (garden valerian); seven to Camellia sinensis (tea); six to Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair tree) and Paullinia cupana (guarana). Most adverse events related to the gastrointestinal tract, nervous and cardiovascular systems. Conclusions: Comparing the data from this study with those published in scientific papers and obtained by the PlantLIBRA Poisons Centers' survey, some important conclusions can be drawn: severe adverse effects to PFS are quite rare, although mild or moderate adverse symptoms can be present. Data reported in this paper can help health professionals (and in particular family doctors) to become aware of possible new problems associated with the increasing use of food supplements containing botanicals

Plants most frequently involved in adverse effects as reported from three sources in the PlantLIBRA project.

<p>Plants most frequently involved in adverse effects as reported from three sources in the PlantLIBRA project.</p

Botanical ingredients contained in PFS with reported adverse effects.

<p>Botanical ingredients contained in PFS with reported adverse effects.</p

Age of consumers included in the PlantLIBRA PFS Consumer Survey and of those reporting adverse effects.

<p>Age of consumers included in the PlantLIBRA PFS Consumer Survey and of those reporting adverse effects.</p

Adverse effects reported by PlantLIBRA PFS Consumer Survey participants.

<p>Adverse effects reported by PlantLIBRA PFS Consumer Survey participants.</p

Distribution of adverse effects among the different organ systems.

<p>Distribution of adverse effects among the different organ systems.</p

PlantLIBRA's PFS consumer survey – health-related lifestyle sample characteristics, overall and by country.

a<p><b><i>Question asked</i></b><b>:</b> Other than PLANT FOOD SUPPLEMENT, have you taken any of the following supplements on a regular basis in the last 12 months? (mark all that apply). <b><i>Possible responses</i></b>: Vitamins (A, B, D, E, etc.); Minerals (eg. potassium, calcium); Amino acids; Enzymes (eg. lactase); Prebiotics (eg. oligosaccharides, fibre); Probiotics (eg. bifidobacteria, yeasts); Fatty acids (eg. fish oil); Other.</p>b<p>FS =  Food supplements.</p>c<p>CAM = Complementary and Alternative Medicine, including: Acupuncturist; Chiropractor; Homeopath; Herbalist; Massage therapist; Traditional/faith healer; Reflexologist; Recognised treatment i.e. not "alternative"; Esoteric treatment; and “Cannot be classified”.</p>d<p>BMI =  Body Mass Index; WHO categories <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0092265#pone.0092265-World1" target="_blank">[18]</a>.</p>e<p>IPAQ categories <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0092265#pone.0092265-Craig1" target="_blank">[19]</a>.</p