Functional foods with cardioprotective effects
- 15.05.2018
- English Articles
- Jenny Hofmann
- Franziska Jung
- Claudia Wiacek
- Peggy G. Braun
- Claudia Luck-Sikorski
- Steffi G. Riedel-Heller
Peer-reviewed | Manuscript received: August 15, 2017 | Revision accepted: November 30, 2017
An analysis of willingness to pay in the German general population
Introduction Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the number one cause of death. According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 17 million people die each year from CVD and that amounts to 31.5% of all death cases [1]. It is estimated that CVD alone are causing costs of € 210 billion in the EU region [2]. 53% (€ 111 billion) of those are direct costs of the general health system [2].
Multiple factors play a role in the development of cardiovascular events. These events can be categorized into behavioral risk factors (unhealthy nutrition, low physical activity, consume of tobacco and alcohol), cardiometabolic diseases (e.g. hypertonie), diabetes mellitus type 2 and fat metabolism disorder [3, 4]. In the year 2015, diet-based factors had the biggest impact on the cardiovascular risk of mortality in both sexes in the EU [2].
Abstract
Worldwide cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death of most people. Foods, which aim for a healthier way of eating and lessen the risk of cardiovascular diseases, are playing a more and more important role. The aim of this study is an analysis of the general German population regarding its acceptance towards functional foods with cardioprotective effects and their willingness to pay for this type of food. In sum 1 007 people were questioned via telephone interviews about their general health behavior, knowledge about, attitudes toward and willingness to pay for functional foods with cardioprotective effects. Willingness to pay was analyzed by the van Westendorp method. Participants showed little knowledge about cardioprotective foods. The analysis of willingness to pay suggests, that an interest by the general public for this kind of product does exist. The amount of interest differs between sex and income. The results indicate that the advantages of functional foods with cardioprotective effects have to be better communicated to overcome possible doubts and concerns.
Keywords: functional food, cardioprotection, cardiovascular diseases, willingness to pay, consumer acceptance
