Underestimated danger of food supplements: Almost a third swallow unnecessary preparations

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Scientifically, the situation is clear: A balanced diet is usually sufficient to meet the body’s nutritional needs. Supplements are only recommended in certain situations, such as folic acid in early pregnancy. However, 30 percent of Swiss people regularly consume vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids or probiotics. This is the conclusion of a study carried out by the market research institute Demoscope on behalf of the Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (BLV).

1,282 adults ages 18-75 from across the country participated in the survey. 30 percent said they had taken dietary supplements in the past seven days. Two-thirds of them were consuming vitamin and/or mineral supplements, and almost 10 percent were consuming omega-3 fatty acids. Almost the same number of people use plant or algae extracts (nine percent) or preparations containing protein and amino acids (7.7 percent). Only three percent of survey respondents said they take probiotics (bacteria, yeast).

Risk of overdose

According to the survey, respondents do not take all vitamins and minerals equally often. However, there is evidence that a small portion of the population consumes excessive amounts of micronutrients. The study stated, “First of all, the risk of overdose was observed in vitamin D and magnesium.”

Excessive consumption of magnesium has a laxative effect and can cause gastrointestinal problems. The BLV study notes that high vitamin D intake is even more critical. Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or serious kidney problems may occur. Micronutrients from natural and fortified foods were not taken into account in the study. The health risk posed by excessive intake was not discussed further in the study because a more in-depth investigation would have made the study much more complicated.

Additionally, it has not been investigated whether nutritional supplements contain what is promised; this was a fact that the observer had previously criticized. However, there are definitely indicators of the dubious million-dollar business: in 2019, the German consumer magazine “Öko-Test” analyzed 17 widely used multivitamin preparations. 15 of these were “inadequate” and 2 were “inadequate”. Vitamins and minerals were frequently overdosed compared to government recommendations for maximum amounts. There were also incomplete warnings and questionable promises about its effectiveness.

Clear words from Germany

The BLV study concludes: “A balanced, varied diet according to the Swiss nutritional recommendations is sufficient for the proper functioning of the metabolism and there is no need for nutritional supplements, except for the special needs of certain population groups.”

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment puts it more clearly: “Food supplements are often unnecessary for healthy people who eat normally. With a balanced diet, the body gets all the nutrients it needs. On the other hand, a one-sided, unbalanced diet cannot be compensated by taking nutritional supplements.”

Source : Blick