Motivations De La Population De L'est Algérien A La Prise Des Compléments Alimentaires : Entre Utilisation Rationnelle Et Attentes Excessives

Abstract

Dietary supplements (DS) are foodstuffs intended to supplement the normal diet,providing a concentrated source of nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect. The main objective of this study is to identify and analyse the motivations for DS consumption in eastern Algeria, assessing knowledge and behaviours against the tension between rational use (documented objective need) and excessive expectations (“miracle” effects sought without medical necessity). The study area covers the provinces of Sétif, Béjaïa and Constantine. The core problem lies in the gap between often self-initiated supplementation and proven health risks (overdose, drug interactions,non-compliant products), within an Algerian regulatory framework that remains unclear and not very restrictive.Methodologically, this is an observational, descriptive cross-sectional study. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, distributed online and face-to-face. Sampling was non-probabilistic convenience sampling, including 95 adult participants (January–May 2026). This methodological choice led to overrepresentation of women (82.4%), young adults (mean age 26.4 years) and health science students (41% of the sample), which limits the generalisability of the findings but does not undermine the descriptive validity of the study.The results show a DS consumption prevalence of 88% . The key finding regarding motivations is as follows : the dominant motivation is deficiency compensation or prevention (47.4%), followed by improvement of sports performance (18.9%), immunity boosting (17.9%) and physical appearance improvement (12.6%). However, fewer than 15% of consumers had undergone prior blood testing, revealing poorly informed self-medication. Furthermore, 45.2% of respondents acknowledge some degree of excessive expectation in their consumption (12.6% pure excessive expectation, 32.6% a mix of real need and expectations). Regarding safety, only 36.8% systematically consider drug interactions, and 34.7% do not always read the package insert. Study limitations include the modest sample size, reporting biases (social desirability,memory) and the absence of inferential statistical tests. In conclusion, this study confirms a high consumption prevalence, predominantly preventive but rarely biologically documented motivations, and a worrying gap between declared knowledge and actual safe behaviours. These findings call for urgent action : training of healthcare professionals,strengthening of Algerian DS regulations, also the national nutrivigilance system