Hong Kong (dpa) - Asians are increasingly switching from traditional medicine to Western health supplements, a survey published Monday found.

People in the region spending an average of more than 18 U.S. dollars each a month on minerals and vitamins with Singapore and Hong Kong people buying most.

Singaporeans spend 24.2 U.S. dollars a month on supplements, followed by people in Hong Kong (22.4 U.S. dollars), Taiwan (20.3 U.S. dollars), Malaysia (17.3 U.S. dollars), China (15.6 U.S. dollars) and Thailand (11.9 U.S. dollars).

The findings in the survey of over 6,000 people around the region by a Singapore-based health food manufacturer shows how Western dietary supplements have replaced traditional supplements such as ginseng and bird's nest for many Asians.

Knowledge of supplements and their benefits varied widely, however. Chinese people scored most highly with a 91 per cent knowledge rating, despite buying relatively few supplements.

Hong Kong people were found to be the least knowledgable with a 62 per cent rating. Researchers found people in Hong Kong were more likely to give up one kind of supplement quickly and switch to another on the basis of advertising and promotion.

Chinese customers on the other hand were more likely to stick with a supplement and take it on a daily or regular basis, indicating they spent less but spent carefully.

From Healthy.net