Yalçın GÖKMEN, Günışıl YALÇIN, İsmail Can ÇİFTÇİ, Beyza Kal KOLİK, Mehmet Oytun TÜCCAR, Mert ARIÇ, Mehmet Emin PİŞKİNPAŞA
İstanbul Medical Journal - 2026;27(1):38-43
Introduction: Social media and internet platforms have transformed access to health information, often encouraging the unsupervised use of over-the-counter (OTC) vitamin supplements. This trend raises concerns about the reliability of online health content and its influence on health behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate the role of social media and internet use in patients' decisions regarding OTC vitamin supplementation. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 216 patients attending an internal medicine outpatient clinic. Participants were grouped into two categories: those who independently initiated supplementation and those who were influenced by social media. Demographics, health information sources, social media habits, and supplementation practices were recorded. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vitamin B12 levels were measured, with deficiencies defined as <20 ng/mL and <200 pg/mL, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25.0, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: Among the participants, 55.1% were male and 44.9% were female, with a mean age of 40.8+/-11.4 years. Social media influenced 37.5% (n=81) of participants to initiate supplementation, most commonly via Instagram (33.3% of those influenced). This group was younger (40.3 vs. 41.4 years; p=0.001), had higher educational attainment (95.1% vs. 76.3% university graduates; p<0.001), and reported greater daily social media use (>3 h: 76.5% vs. 54.8%; p=0.006). While no significant difference was found in vitamin D levels (p>0.05), the social media group had higher vitamin B12 levels (median, 358 vs. 308 pg/mL; p=0.006) and a lower prevalence of deficiency (1.2% vs. 8.9%; p=0.022). Conclusion: Social media significantly influences public health behaviors, particularly by promoting OTC vitamin use. Although some users may experience benefits, unsupervised supplementation poses risks. Physician guidance and stricter regulation of online health content and influencer marketing are essential to safeguard public health.
