Herbal product and dietary supplement use for SARS-CoV-2: A descriptive survey from Türkiye

Tuğba Subaş; İçim Gökkaya; Gülin Renda; İrem Dilaver; Nazım Ercüment Beyhun; Ufuk Özgen

doi:10.12991/jrespharm.1659336

Herbal product and dietary supplement use for SARS-CoV-2: A descriptive survey from Türkiye

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that causes a severe and potentially fatal disease called to as COVID-19. This study aimed to examine the use of herbal products and dietary supplements in Türkiye during the SARS-CoV-2, identifying the products used and determining the factors affecting their use. In this descriptive online research, 1731 questionnaires were analyzed. The questionnaire form contained 27 questions addressing sociodemographic characteristics, individuals’ experiences of SARS-CoV-2, and herbal product use. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were performed for data analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0. From among 1731 participants, 1225 (70.8%) used herbal products or dietary supplements. The most commonly used products were sage, lemon, honey, garlic, peppermint, vitamin C, and ginger. Logistic regression analysis showed that the factors associated with the use of these products were the presence of chronic disease and infection test results. While 47.2% of the participants used such products on their initiative without advice from any source, 36.2% received advice from pharmacists and 25.0% received advice from doctors. The most common sources of information were pharmacists (51.8%), doctors (40.9%), and the internet/social media (39.7%). Participants reported obtaining the products from pharmacies (63.7%), herbal shops (37.9%), and grocery markets (36.5%). Considering the public’s’ strong tendency of using herbal products and dietary supplements, health professionals must provide consultancy on the use of these products.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pharmaceutical Botany

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Tuğba Subaş
0000-0002-0956-6567
Türkiye

İçim Gökkaya
0000-0003-0803-2886
Türkiye

Gülin Renda ^*
0000-0001-6323-0338
Türkiye

İrem Dilaver
0000-0002-9962-7908
Türkiye

Nazım Ercüment Beyhun
0000-0002-4664-9070
Türkiye

Ufuk Özgen
0000-0001-9839-6717
Türkiye

Publication Date

January 11, 2026

Submission Date

March 17, 2025

Acceptance Date

May 27, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 30 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1659336

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA77PW68EG

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Subaş, T., Gökkaya, İ., Renda, G., Dilaver, İ., Beyhun, N. E., & Özgen, U. (2026). Herbal product and dietary supplement use for SARS-CoV-2: A descriptive survey from Türkiye. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, 30(1), 160-170. https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1659336

AMA

1.Subaş T, Gökkaya İ, Renda G, Dilaver İ, Beyhun NE, Özgen U. Herbal product and dietary supplement use for SARS-CoV-2: A descriptive survey from Türkiye. J. Res. Pharm. 2026;30(1):160-170. doi:10.12991/jrespharm.1659336

Chicago

Subaş, Tuğba, İçim Gökkaya, Gülin Renda, İrem Dilaver, Nazım Ercüment Beyhun, and Ufuk Özgen. 2026. “Herbal Product and Dietary Supplement Use for SARS-CoV-2: A Descriptive Survey from Türkiye”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30 (1): 160-70. https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1659336.

EndNote

Subaş T, Gökkaya İ, Renda G, Dilaver İ, Beyhun NE, Özgen U (January 1, 2026) Herbal product and dietary supplement use for SARS-CoV-2: A descriptive survey from Türkiye. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30 1 160–170.

IEEE

[1]T. Subaş, İ. Gökkaya, G. Renda, İ. Dilaver, N. E. Beyhun, and U. Özgen, “Herbal product and dietary supplement use for SARS-CoV-2: A descriptive survey from Türkiye”, J. Res. Pharm., vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 160–170, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.12991/jrespharm.1659336.

ISNAD

Subaş, Tuğba - Gökkaya, İçim - Renda, Gülin - Dilaver, İrem - Beyhun, Nazım Ercüment - Özgen, Ufuk. “Herbal Product and Dietary Supplement Use for SARS-CoV-2: A Descriptive Survey from Türkiye”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30/1 (January 1, 2026): 160-170. https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1659336.

JAMA

1.Subaş T, Gökkaya İ, Renda G, Dilaver İ, Beyhun NE, Özgen U. Herbal product and dietary supplement use for SARS-CoV-2: A descriptive survey from Türkiye. J. Res. Pharm. 2026;30:160–170.

MLA

Subaş, Tuğba, et al. “Herbal Product and Dietary Supplement Use for SARS-CoV-2: A Descriptive Survey from Türkiye”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, vol. 30, no. 1, Jan. 2026, pp. 160-7, doi:10.12991/jrespharm.1659336.

Vancouver

1.Tuğba Subaş, İçim Gökkaya, Gülin Renda, İrem Dilaver, Nazım Ercüment Beyhun, Ufuk Özgen. Herbal product and dietary supplement use for SARS-CoV-2: A descriptive survey from Türkiye. J. Res. Pharm. 2026 Jan. 1;30(1):160-7. doi:10.12991/jrespharm.1659336