Dietary supplements have become part of daily life for many people. Vitamins, minerals, fish oil, probiotics, and herbal products are now found in homes across the United States.
While supplements were once mainly used to treat vitamin deficiencies, many people now take them to improve overall health, support healthy aging, boost immunity, or protect their heart, brain, skin, and joints. A new study published in JAMA Network Open shows that supplement habits have changed dramatically over the past 25 years.
Researchers analyzed information from 63,442 adults who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and August 2023.
During interviews, participants reported whether they had taken any dietary supplements during the previous 30 days. The researchers then matched every reported product with a national supplement database to study long-term trends.
The results showed that supplement use increased from about 51% of adults in 1999 to around 60% in 2023. The biggest change was not simply that more people were taking supplements, but that people were choosing products aimed at specific health goals instead of relying mainly on traditional multivitamins.
Vitamin D use increased sharply, rising from about 5% of adults to 29%. Omega-3 supplements such as fish oil also became much more popular, increasing from roughly 2% to 14%.
During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, products promoted for immune health, including zinc and elderberry, became increasingly common. Probiotics for gut health, collagen for skin, and hyaluronic acid for joint and skin health also grew in popularity.
Researchers also found that many adults were taking multiple supplements at the same time. The percentage of adults using four or more supplements increased from about 9% to 15%. Adults aged 65 years and older showed the largest increase, with nearly 78% reporting the use of at least one supplement by 2023.
The supplement industry has expanded rapidly. More than 100,000 supplement products are now available, and the global market continues to grow.
Unlike prescription medicines, however, dietary supplements generally do not undergo the same FDA premarket approval process for safety and effectiveness. In addition, only about one in four products is taken under the advice of a healthcare professional.
The researchers say these findings highlight the need for continued research into whether newer supplements truly provide the health benefits advertised and whether they are safe for different groups of people.
Although supplements can help people with proven deficiencies or special medical needs, they should not replace a balanced diet, regular exercise, or medical care.
Overall, the study provides an important picture of changing health habits while reminding consumers that “natural” does not always mean effective or risk-free. More high-quality research will be needed as supplement use continues to grow.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about a breakfast linked to better blood vessel health, and drinking too much coffee could harm people with high blood pressure.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about unhealthy habits that may increase high blood pressure risk, and results showing plant-based protein foods may help reverse diabetes.
Source: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) study.
