NAHH Partners with USP

ROCKVILLE, Md.—The National Alliance for Hispanic Health has partnered with the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) to launch a campaign to encourage Hispanic consumers to look for the USP verified mark when purchasing dietary supplements and to talk to their health care provider about all the vitamins and other supplements that they use daily. The campaign includes distribution of the Buena Salud Club infocard, participation in local health events and a toll free helpline for consumers to call to get more health information (1-866-783-2645).

According to a report published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 53 percent of American adults take vitamins or other supplements on a regular basis (NCHS data brief, no 61. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2011) and research from AARP found that 65 percent of Hispanics over the age of 45 believe that herbal remedies and supplements are very effective. But, as a report published in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy found, many Hispanic consumers use a wide range of alternative medicines and supplements, but often don’t tell their health care providers what they are taking (Ann Pharmacother. 2007;41(6):994-1004).

“It is essential for healthcare providers to ask about and understand the reasons Hispanics take vitamins and other supplements. It is the only way to be able to address the medical needs of the Hispanic patient," Jane L. Delgado, Ph.D., president and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health.