Association between parental consultation with healthcare professionals before supplement purchase and adverse events in children

Purpose As health consciousness grows, more people use supplements. Furthermore, the influence of parents and professionals on supplement choice is significant, as younger children have limited autonomy in food choices. This study aimed to examine the association between parental consultation with healthcare professionals before purchasing supplements and the occurrence of adverse events in children. Design/methodology/approach A nationwide online survey was conducted in Japan from November 28 to December 3, 2024, involving 368 parents aged 20–80 years (one parent per household). The questionnaire collected information on child demographics and health status, parental use of supplements for children, consultation with healthcare professionals before purchase, and parent-reported adverse events following supplement use. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between parental consultation and the occurrence of adverse events in children. As data was collected retrospectively, the findings may be subject to recall bias. Findings Among 368 respondents (parents of children; mean age, 44.5 ± 8.2 years), 58.2% were female. In univariate analysis, children whose parents consulted healthcare professionals had higher odds of reported adverse events than did those without consultation (OR = 6.92, 95% CI: 3.10–15.14, p < 0.001). This association remained after adjustment for parental and child characteristics (adjusted OR = 6.30, 95% CI: 2.62–15.15, p < 0.001). Originality/value Parental consultation alone may be insufficient to prevent adverse events related to supplement use in children. These findings underscore the need for broader preventive strategies and future longitudinal research to clarify the role of professional consultation.