"WHY SUPPLEMENTS DON'T WORK" (?!)

"WHY SUPPLEMENTS DON'T WORK" - an article published in The New Scientist December issue. 

Following review of the recent article in The New Scientist, I’d like to address the reasons why and the context in which ‘supplements don’t always work’.

A 2016 Mintel report has highlighted the rapid growth of the supplement and vitamin market, from £421M in 2016, which is estimated to increase to £475M by 2021. With health awareness on the rise, individuals are realising the importance of nutrition, lifestyle and preventative medicine. As a result, there is a growing ‘trend’ to take supplements and individuals are purchasing nutrients that they may not even need, with no knowledge of the implications.

It is evident that more attention needs to be given to ensure correct and appropriate use of supplementation.

Biochemical Individuality

Without proper investigation into the root cause of your symptoms, it is impossible to truly know what supplements our body needs to function optimally. In the same way, we are all biochemically unique, with different needs and capacity to absorb and utilise nutrients. Without advice from a professional, it is impossible to know the impact a given supplement could have on your health in the long term and if it may negatively interact with certain medications you’re on or even foods that you’re eating. It’s also important to highlight that the efficacy of a supplement depends on HOW you take it (e.g. certain fat soluble vitamins will not absorb optimally in the absence of food) and WHEN is the best time to take it. Your current health status will determine the correct combination of supplements to be taken as part of a targeted protocol.

Dosage and Safety

Through advanced diagnostic tools (such as blood, urine and stool testing), it is possible to ascertain in depth information about an individual’s health status and identify nutrient levels in your system. Nutritional deficiencies may lead to dysfunction and could benefit from supplementation to boost suboptimal levels. However, too much of anything is never beneficial to our health and in some cases, incorrect dosage or over consumption of certain nutrients can be harmful.

Quality is key

The market is so heavily saturated with different forms of the same thing, it’s increasingly difficult to know which ones contain optimal amounts of the required nutrient, and more importantly the most bioavailable form (ie. the rate at which the nutrient will absorb, once in your body).

Finally, I’d like to emphasise that supplementation should never be seen as a substitute for a healthy balanced nutrient rich diet, (and it won’t compensate for a typical western diet, which is often energy dense and nutrient poor). Similarly, topping up with supplements to reach the recommended daily dose of a given nutrient may not achieve the health benefits you are expecting. 

However, they CAN be a really effective tool in supporting your health objectives, with a targeted and personalised approach! 

Bottom line

Registered Nutritional Therapists are especially trained to recommend supplements, following a detailed analysis of your medical history, prescription medications, test results and presenting symptoms.

Please always consult a qualified practitioner for personalised advice and guidance before taking supplements