Abstract

Aspects of health food intake were investigated by conducting a questionnaire survey with over 480 of adults in Taejon and the data were analyzed by chi2-test, t-test and ANOVA, using an SAS program. Eighty two percent of the subjects had taken some kind of health food. The health foods they took frequently were, for example, health drinks, green tea, ginseng products, dietary fiber drinks, honey, general tea, vitamin B, vitamin C, and tonic medicines. The main reason for taking health foods was recovery from fatigue and the frequency of taking health foods was one time per day. Most of the subjects took health foods without knowledge of their components or effects. When they health foods with a perceived knowledge of their components and effects, they responded that the health foods were very helpful for them. Twenty percent of subjects experienced side effects, such as diarrhea, stomachache, headache, nettle rash, and stomach cramps. Information on health foods was obtained mainly from friends or family. The user group showed higher intention to continue health food intake than non users(p<0.001). Health foods were taken without any knowledge about them. Health food intake was significantly correlated with consideration of disease, suffering or disease, medical examination, and self-perceived health status, but not with food habits and health food knowledge. As for the results from the adults consumption pattern of health food, an education program should be developed to choose proper health foods according to the consumers dietary life and health conditions. Also a proper guide line should be established to be chosen the authorized health foods.

• Keywords: health food; intake; adults; health food knowledge