Too many Americans spend too much on supplements
We’ve all read or heard that Ben Franklin supposedly said, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” However, the exact date or context in which Franklin might have said this is not documented. Still, it seems like something he may have said, given his wisdom, diverse interests, and contributions to the advancement of science and technology. After all, he invented the lightning rod and bifocals.
Yet, Franklin was not only a scientist and inventor but also a skilled writer and publisher with an uncanny ability to effectively promote his ideas and achievements. He utilized his talents in writing and publishing to disseminate his ideas widely. His almanacs, newspapers, and pamphlets were instrumental in this regard, helping him reach a broad audience. Additionally, his engaging and accessible writing style helped popularize scientific concepts and made them more understandable to the general public. Franklin's strategic use of his publications was a key factor in building his reputation in America and abroad.
If he were alive today, he most certainly wouldn’t go about touting the benefits of eating an apple a day – you can’t make a big fortune by selling apples. He’d probably have his own line of dietary supplements and a huge online and social media presence. If people can rake in millions of dollars by selling nutritional supplements while peddling conspiracy theories and spreading damn lies, imagine how much a polymath like Franklin could make.
After all, over-the-counter dietary supplements are big business. Three-quarters of adults in the U.S. took dietary supplements in 2023, with 57% identifying as regular users. Estimates for the total value of the supplement market in the U.S. range from $30 billion to $56 billion a year. Over the last 15 years, dietary supplement use has increased significantly for all age groups. For example, 83% of Americans aged 60 and over now use supplements compared with 67% in 2008. More than half of adults 60 and older (54%) take one or two supplements, and 29% take four or more.
The global dietary supplement market is estimated to be about three times the size of the U.S. market. However, the U.S. population accounts for only 4% of the global population. In other words, Americans spend eight times more money than a population of the same size in other parts of the world.
Dietary supplements encompass a wide range of products aimed at supplementing the diet and enhancing health. It’s an umbrella term that includes everything from vitamins and minerals to botanicals and biosimilar products. For the most part, though, people use "supplement" to mean an individual vitamin or mineral preparation or a multivitamin (a product containing up to ten or more vitamins, minerals, or both). The market includes various categories, including:
The market is also shaped by consumer preference for different forms of supplements. Capsules hold a significant market share due to their convenience and ability to protect active ingredients. More recently, gummies have emerged as a fast-growing category, particularly popular for their visual appeal and ease of consumption.
An interesting aspect of the U.S. dietary supplements market is the way it has adapted to perceived consumer needs based on age and gender. Intense marketing efforts promote a broad range of products targeting different life stages and specific health concerns. This trend is partly driven by the aging population, which is increasingly looking for supplements to mitigate the effects of aging. The rising healthcare costs also prompt consumers to turn to dietary supplements as a preventive measure.
Yet, Franklin was not only a scientist and inventor but also a skilled writer and publisher with an uncanny ability to effectively promote his ideas and achievements. He utilized his talents in writing and publishing to disseminate his ideas widely. His almanacs, newspapers, and pamphlets were instrumental in this regard, helping him reach a broad audience. Additionally, his engaging and accessible writing style helped popularize scientific concepts and made them more understandable to the general public. Franklin's strategic use of his publications was a key factor in building his reputation in America and abroad.
If he were alive today, he most certainly wouldn’t go about touting the benefits of eating an apple a day – you can’t make a big fortune by selling apples. He’d probably have his own line of dietary supplements and a huge online and social media presence. If people can rake in millions of dollars by selling nutritional supplements while peddling conspiracy theories and spreading damn lies, imagine how much a polymath like Franklin could make.
After all, over-the-counter dietary supplements are big business. Three-quarters of adults in the U.S. took dietary supplements in 2023, with 57% identifying as regular users. Estimates for the total value of the supplement market in the U.S. range from $30 billion to $56 billion a year. Over the last 15 years, dietary supplement use has increased significantly for all age groups. For example, 83% of Americans aged 60 and over now use supplements compared with 67% in 2008. More than half of adults 60 and older (54%) take one or two supplements, and 29% take four or more.
The global dietary supplement market is estimated to be about three times the size of the U.S. market. However, the U.S. population accounts for only 4% of the global population. In other words, Americans spend eight times more money than a population of the same size in other parts of the world.
Dietary supplements encompass a wide range of products aimed at supplementing the diet and enhancing health. It’s an umbrella term that includes everything from vitamins and minerals to botanicals and biosimilar products. For the most part, though, people use "supplement" to mean an individual vitamin or mineral preparation or a multivitamin (a product containing up to ten or more vitamins, minerals, or both). The market includes various categories, including:
- Vitamins and minerals: These are the most common supplements, including vitamins A, C, D, E, and B-complex, as well as minerals like magnesium, calcium, and iron.
- Herbal and botanical supplements: Products made from plants for various health purposes, like echinacea, garlic, ginkgo biloba, and St. John's Wort.
- Protein and amino acids: Supplements like whey protein, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), and glutamine are popular among athletes and bodybuilders.
- Enzymes and probiotics: Supplements for digestive health, such as lactase (for lactose intolerance) and probiotics (for gut health).
- Specialty supplements: This includes fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine (for joint health), and coenzyme Q10.
- Meal supplements and weight loss products: These are shakes, bars, or other items meant to replace meals or promote weight loss.
The market is also shaped by consumer preference for different forms of supplements. Capsules hold a significant market share due to their convenience and ability to protect active ingredients. More recently, gummies have emerged as a fast-growing category, particularly popular for their visual appeal and ease of consumption.
An interesting aspect of the U.S. dietary supplements market is the way it has adapted to perceived consumer needs based on age and gender. Intense marketing efforts promote a broad range of products targeting different life stages and specific health concerns. This trend is partly driven by the aging population, which is increasingly looking for supplements to mitigate the effects of aging. The rising healthcare costs also prompt consumers to turn to dietary supplements as a preventive measure.
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Even though supplements are popular, there is limited evidence that they offer any significant health benefits. In fact, there are a number of excellent studies that don’t show much or no discernible benefits from supplement use. For example, based on a systematic review of published studies, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines state there is “insufficient evidence” that taking multivitamins, paired supplements, or single supplements can help prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer in otherwise healthy, non-pregnant adults.
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The reason why the manufacturers and sellers of dietary supplements are free to make almost outrageous claims about the potency of their products is that the regulatory environment for dietary supplements in the United States is less stringent compared to that for pharmaceutical drugs. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994, supplement manufacturers are not required to prove the safety or efficacy of their products to the FDA before they are marketed.
While manufacturers are prohibited from making specific disease treatment claims, they can make general health claims, nutrient content claims, and structure/function claims as long as they include a disclaimer stating that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not evaluated these claims and that the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These allowances, combined with limited regulatory oversight, enable manufacturers to promote their supplements with various claims, often based on little or anecdotal evidence. Only a small number of the 90,000 supplements for sale today have been tested.
Supplements are never a substitute for a balanced, healthful diet, and most of the money Americans spend on supplements is wasted. Still, up to 10% of the population may benefit from dietary supplements, including:
Some research has also found that a formula of vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, zinc, and copper can reduce the progression of age-related macular degeneration, a major cause of vision loss among older adults. Likewise, people who are lactose intolerant and do not get enough vitamin D and calcium because they don't eat dairy products could also benefit from supplements.
Surprisingly, three-quarters of Americans aren’t convinced of the value of taking supplements and doubt the claims made by manufacturers. Still, the vast majority of people choose dietary supplements over a balanced diet for reasons other than proven health benefits:
Fortunately, too many people taking supplements they don’t need isn’t the same as people taking too many supplements. Reports of people suffering from overdoses of vitamins (hypervitaminoses) or other supplements are, thankfully, rare. One tragic case involved the wife of a U.S. representative who died from dehydration due to gastroenteritis and adverse effects of white mulberry leaf ingestion in 2022. In another case, a woman in the United Kingdom died from liver failure after taking herbal supplements to alleviate arthritis.
On the other hand, unhealthy diets, including ultra-processed fast food, cause more than 500,000 deaths per year in the U.S., not to mention all the disorders people live with, such as diabetes and heart disease. Considering that statistic, the average American spending $200 a year on dietary supplements that may or may not have any health benefits still seems better than spending $150 on fast food each month.
While manufacturers are prohibited from making specific disease treatment claims, they can make general health claims, nutrient content claims, and structure/function claims as long as they include a disclaimer stating that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not evaluated these claims and that the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These allowances, combined with limited regulatory oversight, enable manufacturers to promote their supplements with various claims, often based on little or anecdotal evidence. Only a small number of the 90,000 supplements for sale today have been tested.
Supplements are never a substitute for a balanced, healthful diet, and most of the money Americans spend on supplements is wasted. Still, up to 10% of the population may benefit from dietary supplements, including:
- People with nutrient deficiencies: Supplements can help those diagnosed with a deficiency in vitamins or minerals.
- Individuals with dietary restrictions: People following vegetarian, vegan, or other specialized diets may need supplements to replace nutrients typically obtained from restricted food sources.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women: Supplements like folic acid are often recommended for pregnant women.
- Babies and children under 5: They may be advised to take vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C, and D daily.
- Older adults: As the body's ability to absorb nutrients decreases with age, supplements might benefit older adults.
- People with certain health conditions: Individuals with health conditions that affect nutrient absorption or metabolism may require supplements.
Some research has also found that a formula of vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, zinc, and copper can reduce the progression of age-related macular degeneration, a major cause of vision loss among older adults. Likewise, people who are lactose intolerant and do not get enough vitamin D and calcium because they don't eat dairy products could also benefit from supplements.
Surprisingly, three-quarters of Americans aren’t convinced of the value of taking supplements and doubt the claims made by manufacturers. Still, the vast majority of people choose dietary supplements over a balanced diet for reasons other than proven health benefits:
- Convenience: Supplements are often seen as a quick and easy way to obtain nutrients without the time and effort needed to prepare balanced meals.
- Perceived health benefits: Some believe supplements offer health benefits beyond what they can obtain from food alone.
- Targeted nutrition: Individuals may use supplements to address specific health concerns or deficiencies they believe they cannot correct through diet alone.
- Marketing influence: Effective advertising can convince consumers that supplements are necessary for optimal health. In 2018, advertisers spent an estimated $900 million on ads for vitamin, mineral, and supplement products.
- Lifestyle and dietary restrictions: Those with dietary restrictions or specific lifestyle choices may rely on supplements to fill nutritional gaps.
- Personal beliefs: Some people may have strong beliefs about the benefits of certain supplements based on anecdotal evidence or personal experiences.
Fortunately, too many people taking supplements they don’t need isn’t the same as people taking too many supplements. Reports of people suffering from overdoses of vitamins (hypervitaminoses) or other supplements are, thankfully, rare. One tragic case involved the wife of a U.S. representative who died from dehydration due to gastroenteritis and adverse effects of white mulberry leaf ingestion in 2022. In another case, a woman in the United Kingdom died from liver failure after taking herbal supplements to alleviate arthritis.
On the other hand, unhealthy diets, including ultra-processed fast food, cause more than 500,000 deaths per year in the U.S., not to mention all the disorders people live with, such as diabetes and heart disease. Considering that statistic, the average American spending $200 a year on dietary supplements that may or may not have any health benefits still seems better than spending $150 on fast food each month.
