The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

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  • Recent Comments

    Use of dietary supplements by medical specialists

    Here’s a look at the use of dietary supplements by physicians in 3 specialties in the US: cardiology, dermatology, and orthopedics.

    First, the details.

    • The study was conducted online by Ipsos Public Affairs for the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a trade association of the dietary supplement industry.
    • Respondents were 900 physicians, including 300 each from 3 specialties of cardiology, dermatology, and orthopedics.

    And, the results.

    • At least occasional use:
      • 57% of cardiologists, 75% of dermatologists and 73% of orthopedists use dietary supplements at least occasionally.
      • Most commonly, a multivitamin
      • But over 25% in each specialty use omega-3 fatty acids and over 20% use botanical supplements.
    • Regular dietary supplement use:
      • 37% of cardiologists, 59% of dermatologists, and 50% of orthopedists
    • Recommendations to patients:
      • 72% of cardiologists, 66% of dermatologists, and 91% of orthopedists recommend dietary supplements to their patients.
      • The primary reasons:
        • Heart health or lowering cholesterol for cardiologists
        • Benefits for skin, hair and nails for dermatologists
        • Bone and joint health for orthopedists

    The bottom line?

    The authors concluded, “Reported dietary supplement use was relatively common in this sample of physicians, and when they recommended dietary supplements to patients, they tended to do so for reasons related to their specialty.”

    It’s safe to conclude that dietary supplements have a prominant role in their recommendations for patients.

    3/5/11 20:29 JR

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