People may be spending money on food supplements they don’t need, new research has found.
The research, by Safefood, revealed that almost half of Irish adults (48%) are taking a food supplement. The majority (60%) of respondents who take a supplement take vitamin D.
About 41% of respondents take multivitamins and minerals, and 34% of respondents take vitamin C. Nearly half of parents in the survey (47%) reported giving their children supplements.
Although dietary supplements play an important role in correcting nutritional deficiencies, current guidelines advise that for healthy people, only two supplements are recommended; vitamin D for those under five and over 65, and folic acid for people who could become pregnant.
“From the research, it would appear that a lot of people are spending money on supplements that they probably don’t need,” said Dr. Aileen McGloin, director of nutrition for Safefood.
“Although it is encouraging that vitamin D is the most widely consumed supplement, it appears that other multivitamin and mineral options are over-consumed. We advise people to discuss their diet with a trusted healthcare professional before spending money on other supplements.”
The research, which was carried out by the University of Ulster, suggests that the use of food supplements may be increasing among the general adult population.
When asked why they bought, “in general, supporting the immune system” was one of the top perceived benefits that emerged from focus groups with participants, for example, “preventing colds and flu.”
Those most likely to use food supplements were women, aged between 35 and 49 years, and of a higher socioeconomic level. They were working full time, married or living as married, living with a diagnosed physical health condition, vegetarian, or vegan.
Our new research questions the level of dietary supplements people take.
It says that people take vitamins and minerals even though the guidelines only recommend vitamin D and folic acid for certain groups.
Read more here: https://t.co/J13bJLqzkC@HealthyIreland @HSELive pic.twitter.com/Cs2CH5Tmnd
— safe food (@safefood_net) November 10, 2022
They believed that taking supplements would be beneficial to their health, good for them, or that it would be wise to do so. Parents who used supplements were more than twice as likely to give their children a dietary supplement than parents who did not use them.
Among people who reported currently taking food supplements, the median or average number of supplements reported was 2.6. The majority reported daily use of food supplements (81%).
Safefood raised concerns about the regulation of food supplements and the potential risk of excessive micronutrient intake.
Joana De Silva, Chief Nutrition Specialist at Safefood added:
“Excess water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C, for example, can’t be used and will be eliminated from the body, so it’s really a waste of money.
“It would be much better for overall health if people made changes to what they eat instead of taking extra tablets. However, if you have a specific medical condition or need to restrict certain foods, you may need to take supplements. Our advice would be discuss this with a trusted healthcare professional.”
Safefood is a public body responsible for raising consumer awareness on issues related to food safety and healthy eating.
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