Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Probiotics are “good” bacteria that line our digestive tract and contribute to our body’s ability to absorb nutrients and fight infection. It is important to note that there are different types of probiotic strains, Vogt explained. Vitamin D is important for bone strength, muscle and overall health.
Magnesium is an important nutrient involved in hundreds of enzymatic reactions in the body, such as food metabolism, fatty acid and protein synthesis and the transmission of nerve impulses. Although most people can obtain an adequate amount of protein from their diet (it is found in both plant-based foods and meat), some population groups may benefit from protein supplementation, particularly athletes or those with an intense training regime. Most people do not need to take vitamin supplements and can get all the vitamins and minerals they need from a healthy, balanced diet. If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or could become pregnant, it is recommended that you take a folic acid supplement of 400 micrograms every day until you are 12 weeks pregnant.
But apart from some groups of people and specific situations, most people who eat a balanced diet do not need to take supplements. The Department of Health and Social Care recommends certain supplements for some groups of people who are at risk of deficiencies. Previous research suggested that men taking vitamin E supplements may have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer. If you need a fibre supplement, consider psyllium, which has the added benefit of lowering cholesterol levels.
Despite its iconic status, there is no evidence that multivitamins improve health and well-being or prevent disease. The first step is to discuss your options with your health care provider, as the efficacy and safety of a supplement may depend on your individual situation and health. Until (or unless) better monitoring becomes available, supplements are likely to remain the Wild West of American health. Decades of research have failed to find any substantial evidence that vitamins and supplements are beneficial.
Countless supplements that people recommend can be found on social media: turmeric pills, maca pills, goji berry juice powder, spirulina, kale powder, etc. In addition, several large studies have linked folic acid supplementation before and during pregnancy with decreased rates of neural tube defects, serious and potentially fatal birth defects of the baby’s brain, spine or spinal cord. So it shouldn’t be a big surprise that if you are undergoing antibiotic treatment, taking a probiotic (either a supplement or a food naturally rich in bacteria, such as yoghurt) to replace the bacterial colonies in your gut might be a good idea. People take these supplements to ensure they get enough essential nutrients and to maintain or improve their health.
In other words, by randomly deciding which participants took the supplement and which did not and strictly controlling for other variables (thus reducing the effect of confounding factors), the researchers found that adults who took daily vitamin D supplements lived longer than those who did not. Because of the increasing rates of vitamin D deficiency and its implications, supplementation is recommended if the body is not at optimal levels, Vogt said.
