Knowledge of Dietary Supplements and Attitudes Towards Complementary Medicine Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Despite the increasing global consumption of dietary supplements (DS) and the growing interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), there is a significant gap in evidence-based knowledge and understanding of these practices among university students, particularly those in non-health-focused programs. This gap may lead to misconceptions, misuse, and unsafe practices, which necessitate targeted educational interventions. The presented cross-national comparative study assessed knowledge of DS and attitudes towards CAM among 809 university students from Croatia and Slovenia, including health-focused and non-health-focused study programs by use of validated questionnaires. The study integrated DS and CAM within the same analytical framework. Assessed knowledge on DS was moderate, with an average of 71.2% correct answers. Slovenian students from health-focused studies achieved the highest scores, while Croatian students from non-health focused studies scored the lowest values. Misconceptions persisted across all groups, while usage of supplements was widespread. Attitudes toward CAM were overall mildly positive, where Slovenian students from health-focused studies reported the most favorable views. Attitudes were more strongly associated with supplement use than with knowledge, indicating that personal experience and cultural context shape perceptions more than formal education. Our findings challenge the usual assumption that higher knowledge automatically leads to rational health decisions.