本研究乃在探討父母給予二歲幼兒食用膳食營養補充劑的相關因素，以大台北地區分層隨機抽樣選取17個鄉鎮或區的二歲幼兒及其父母為對象，有效問卷494份。結果顯示有超過四成父母給予二歲幼兒食用膳食營養補充劑，其中又有四成給予二種或二種以上之補充劑。給予維生素及礦物質類的補充劑(VM)者有26.9%，非維生素及礦物質類的補充劑（non-VM，如益生菌、中草藥）者有24.1%。主要決定給孩子食用補充劑的是母親，主要的原因依序是：怕幼兒營養不足或缺乏(70.0%)，覺得預防重於治療(32.2%)，醫生建議(15.2%)和幼兒體質較弱(14.3%)。利用邏輯迴歸分析法(logistic regression)探討父母給予幼兒食用膳食營養補充劑之相關因素，結果顯示對兩類膳食營養補充劑主要之預測因子均是健康相關原因，父母飲食態度亦與VM的給予有關，但是預測力遠不及上述因素；non-VM的給予則與父母飲食態度無關。這結果顯示父母沒有信心藉由適當的飲食幼兒即可攝取到所需之營養，也不瞭解過量攝取營養補充劑的弊害，應加強父母之幼兒飲食營養教育，膳食營養補充劑的成分、作用及副作用，及先諮詢醫師、營養師等專業人員，確認幼兒需求後再決定是否給予幼兒膳食補充劑。
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to understand the vitamin/mineral (VM and non-vitamin/mineral (non-VM; e.g., probiotics, herbal medicines, etc.) dietary supplement intake among 2-year-old children in Taipei. In total, 484 parents participated in the study and completed a questionnaire (designed by the research team) that measured factors thought to influence dietary supplement intake of very young children. A logistic regression was performed as the statistical analysis. According to parents, 43.9% of children consumed a dietary supplement. Among those, nearly 40.0% consumed 2 or more types of supplements. Twenty-seven percent of children who consumed dietary supplements used VM, while 24.1% used non-VM. The mother was the key decision maker of whether or not to give supplements. Both VM and non-VM supplements were given mainly for health-related reasons i.e., concern about a child's insufficient dietary intake, as a means of disease prevention, etc.). Additionally, this was a statistically significant predictor for both VM and non-VM supplement usage (p＜0.001. Parental attitude towards food selection and eating was also a significant predictor of using VM supplements p＜0.05 but not for non-VM supplements. In conclusion, it is a common practice for parents to provide dietary supplements to 2-year-old children in Taipei, most likely due to a lack of parental confidence in feeding their children a diet with sufficient nutrients. Therefore, it is very important to educate parents about an adequate diet for children as well as the functions and side effects of dietary supplements. Parents should also be advised to consult with health professionals before giving children supplements.
