Survey: Use of complementary health approaches unchanged among youth

The general use of complementary health approaches has not increased among children since 2007, although use of fish oil, melatonin and yoga have increased significantly, according to data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey.

Results of the 2007 and 2012 surveys are based on combined data from representing 17,321 interviews with adults regarding the use of complementary health approaches among children aged 4 to 17 years.

According to data presented during a webinar hosted by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health of the NIH, about one in nine children (11.6%) used complementary health approaches, with children aged 12 to 17 years much more likely to use them. Specific health concerns, including back, neck and other musculoskeletal pain; head or chest cold; stress or anxiety; and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder were cited as the main reason for using complementary approaches.

Survey results showed natural products, considered nonvitamin or nonmineral dietary supplements, were the most common complementary health approaches used by children. Fish oil was found to be the most commonly used product among children in 2012. Melatonin was the second most commonly used supplement, with a significant increase in usage since 2007 (0.1% vs. 0.7%). Movement therapies, specifically yoga, tai chi and qi gong, saw a significant usage increase between 2007 (2.5%) and 2012 (3.2%). Researchers noted this increase is largely credited to yoga, with roughly 400,000 more children partaking since 2007. A substantial difference was seen in gender association with movement therapies: 1% of boys compared with 4.2% of girls.

Wendy J. Weber, ND, PhD, MPH, branch chief of the Clinical Research in Complementary and Integrative Health Branch at the NCCH/NIH, advises parents and providers to remember that not all products and approaches used in adults are suitable for children of all ages.

“We often don’t know how a specific natural product will impact the developing body, whether it be the developing brain, nervous system or the endocrine system of children as they are going through development and puberty. So we can’t necessarily generalize the adults and the things we know about adult usage into the pediatric population,” Weber said during the webinar.

References: Black LI, et al. National Health Statistics Reports. No. 78. Feb. 10, 2015.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.