At least 71% consumers take vitamin, mineral, fiber, omega, herbs or other nutraceutical tablets on a regular basis, a LocalCircles survey has found.
Most nutraceutical products are available in the form of tablets, syrups or powders. Several researchers have pointed out that nutraceutical products limit the severity of various lifestyle diseases. However, medical experts advise its medium-heavy usage only after consulting a doctor including experts in traditional or alternate medicine. Most of the nutraceutical products can be bought over the counter in regular medical stores, while some are available at Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) kendras besides medical stores, local general stores, eCommerce platforms, online grocery platforms, ePharmacy platforms as well as direct selling channels.
LocalCircles has conducted a comprehensive national survey to observe how Indian households consume various nutraceuticals products, along with their point of purchase. The survey received over 47,000 responses from citizens residing in 318 districts of India. While 62% respondents were men, 38% respondents were women. A total of 45% respondents were from tier 1, 31% from tier 2 and 24% respondents were from tier 3, 4 and rural districts.
The survey asked the consumers, “Are you taking any vitamin, mineral, fiber, omega, herbs or other nutraceutical tablets on a regular basis?” In response, 16% said “Yes, several of them”, 30% said “Yes, 1 or 2”, and another 25% said “Yes, on and off, not regularly”.
Breaking down the poll, 3% of citizens said “No, doctor has prescribed but haven’t taking”, and 26% said “No, not taking”. This question in the survey received 12,561 responses.
68% BUY THEM FROM LOCAL MEDICAL OR GENERAL STORES
How are you purchasing the nutraceuticals (vitamin, mineral, fiber, omega, herbs, or others) that you consume?” In response, a majority, 63% of consumers, said they get it from “medical stores”, 5% get it from “local general stores”, 13% said “eCommerce platforms”, 4% said “online grocery platforms”, 8% said “ePharmacy platforms” and 5% said “through direct selling channels”. 2% couldn’t say. This question received 11,757 responses.
69% TAKING SOME OR ALL NUTRACEUTICALS WITHOUT A DOCTOR’S PRESCRIPTION
The survey sought response to another key question “the nutraceuticals like vitamins, minerals, fibre, omega, herbs, etc., that you are taking on a regular basis, what percentage of them were prescribed by a qualified doctor”.
The responses revealed that less than one-third or 31% consume products “prescribed by a qualified doctor”. Of the total 10,873 respondents to this query, 23% revealed they are not consulting any doctor for “none of them”; 14% are taking “0-10%” based on doctor’s advice; 5% are consumer “10-20%” on medical advice; 27% in the case of “50-100%” of them.
In all it appears, 69% of consumers surveyed are taking some or all the nutraceuticals without a doctor’s prescription.
78% CONSUMERS SURVEYED WANT GOVT TO CAP PRICES OF SUPPLEMENTS
The last survey question sought to know: “Should the government cap prices of vital nutraceuticals like Vitamin A, Vitamin C and other immunity boosters?” The query received nearly 12,000 responses with 78% of consumers surveyed wanting the government to cap prices of supplements such as Vitamins and other immunity boosters; 17% of respondents felt such a step is not necessary and 5% of respondents gave no clear response.
To sum up, 78% of consumers surveyed want the government to cap prices of supplement like Vitamin A, C and immunity boosters.
The survey was conducted via LocalCircles platform and all participants were validated citizens who had to be registered with LocalCircles to participate in this survey. LocalCircles is a Community Social Media platform that enables citizens and small businesses to escalate issues for policy and enforcement interventions and enables the Government to make policies that are citizen and small business centric.
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