Frequently asked questions

Are Health Supplements For You?

The past two decades has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people wanting to take responsibility for their own health, and greater interest in the role played by diet in maintaining good health. It has also seen an increase in the number of health supplements available in the UK as well as a growing awareness of the benefits of health supplements for many people.

However the increase in products now widely available, as well as the publication of information on health supplements that is often conflicting, has inevitably resulted in some confusion amongst consumers.

The Health Supplements Information Service was set up in 1999 to provide up-to-date information about vitamins, minerals and food supplements and this information has been produced to answer some of the most common questions asked about these products.

It is clear that many of us can benefit from supplements at certain times in our lives and I hope that after reading this booklet you will be able to make more confident decisions about your own nutritional requirements.

Question

Does everybody get enough nutrients from their diet?

If I take supplements, do I really need to bother about what I eat?
Everyone should aim to eat as varied and balanced a diet as possible to provide their nutritional needs, avoiding too many processed, fatty and sugary foods. Supplements should only be used to ‘fill the gaps’ where regular consumption of a balanced diet is not possible or is not achieved because of lack of accessibility of the right kinds of foods. In this context it is worth noting that many people fail to meet the Department of Health recommendations of at least five portions of vegetables and fruit per day and at least two portions of fish, including one of oily fish, per week. Supplements are also important at times of increased nutritional requirement (see Question 1).

Although the micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and trace elements) can be supplied by supplements, there are components of food which cannot be replaced by supplements, including the macronutrients: carbohydrates, fat and protein; and fibre (non-starch polysaccharides).

People with busy / stressful lives
As the pace of our lives increases, in this age of ever-advancing technology and high-speed communications, our diets may be the first aspect of our lives to suffer as we have less time to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Unfortunately during stressful times some people may find that their intake of alcohol and/or cigarettes increases, which can lead to poorer intake/absorption/assimilation of nutrients.

Are supplements only for body builders and athletes?

Are most supplements taken by young people or pregnant women?

How long do you need to take supplements for? Are they a quick fix?

Do you have to take supplements with food?

Is it OK to take various different supplements at the same time?

Can you easily overdose on supplements?

How much of a supplement is safe to take?

Can some supplements stop medicines from working?

Can too much vitamin C be harmful?

Does Vitamin B6 cause nerve damage?

Are dietary supplements unnecessary and a waste of money?

Are supplements a new fad to make money and are they most likely to be taken by the well-off who least need them?

Is the “supplements” industry is worth a huge amount of money?