Over-the-counter dietary supplements are big business in the United States, with more than 90,000 brands generating around $30 billion in revenue per year. These sales also include a large number of older adults. According to a study of nearly 3,500 adults aged 60 and up released in The Journal of Nutrition on Oct. 1, 2017, 70% of those polled take a daily supplement (either a multivitamin or an individual vitamin or mineral), 54% take one or two supplements, and 29% take four or more.
What science reveals
Dietary supplements include a wide range of ingredients, from vitamins and minerals to botanicals and biosimilar (such as so-called “natural male hormone”). However, most people use the term “supplement” to refer to a single vitamin or mineral supplement or a multivitamin (that is, a product that contains 10 or more vitamins, minerals, or both).
The fact that gummy multivitamins for adults are not regulated by the FDA is the biggest problem. Supplements can be sold without having to show that they are beneficial. It’s also impossible to know for sure that the supplement includes the ingredients listed on the packaging and is free of toxins due to the lack of enforcement and supervision.
So it’s not just negative news. Folic acid and B-complex vitamins, for example, have been found to decrease the risk of stroke in some studies. In addition, according to the Physicians’ Health Study II, conducted in 2012 by Harvard researchers, men who took a normal multivitamin for 11 years had an 8% lower risk of cancer and a 9% lower risk of cataracts than a control group.
High-risk individuals have a part to play.
For certain high-risk populations, supplements may be extremely beneficial. Adults with osteoporosis, for example, can require additional vitamin D and calcium above what they get from their daily diet. People with Crohn’s disease or celiac disease, who find it difficult to absorb some nutrients, may benefit from supplements. Vitamin B12 deficiency almost always necessitates supplementation.
According to some studies, a combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, zinc, and copper will slow the development of age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of vision loss in the elderly. “Moreover, lactose intolerant people who don’t eat dairy products and don’t get enough vitamin D and calcium can benefit from supplements,” says Dr. Manson.
The message here is that taking body and hair vitamins UAE recommended by a doctor will benefit patients who are suffering from such medical conditions. Otherwise, diet is a better source of vitamins and minerals than pills.
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