(CNN) A new study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that more than one-third of most American adults and children use dietary supplements, and that number is either stable or rising.
Researchers at the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics looked only at supplement use from 2017 to March 2020. Experts say usage may be even higher now, as it increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially before vaccines and treatments were available. the study and investigation It was a time when people were trying to boost their immunity in any way they could.
Global supplement market Growing for at least 10 years.
The United States alone was an estimated $20.5 billion market in 2021, according to. Grand View Researcha market research and consulting firm.
The new study used information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a series of nationally representative surveys of the US population.
When asked about supplement use in the previous month, 58.5% of adults said they used at least one, compared with 34.8% of children and adolescents, up from 57.6% of adults. 2017-18although the number of children remained roughly the same.
A new study found some demographic consistency. Become.
Asian and non-Hispanic white adults used more supplements than Hispanic and non-Hispanic black adults.
Multivitamins were popular. Almost a quarter of the children surveyed consumed it, and almost a third of the adults.
More than 18% of adults took vitamin D, the next most popular supplement.
Supplement use is still popular among adults and children, but science has not shown that they actually benefit health.
In 2022, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, A panel of independent experts creating guidelines on health practices found ‘Insufficient evidence’ Advocate or discourage the use of vitamins A, C, or E; multivitamins with folic acid; or combinations of antioxidants for the prevention of cancer or cardiovascular disease in healthy nonpregnant adults.
Most studies have found that multivitamins don’t actually make people healthier. 2022 survey JAMA, which the task force relied on to develop its guidance, reviewed 84 studies involving approximately 700,000 people and found that multivitamin use prevented cancer, heart and lung disease or death. The evidence was limited, but they provided only modest benefit in a large number of cancer cases.
Other supplements may be harmful. The USPSTF said its studies may increase the risk of mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and lung cancer, so beta-carotene supplements, which the body converts to vitamin A, can help prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer. states that there is sufficient evidence to discourage the use of
“It’s touted as a natural product. It’s touted as different from what you get from a doctor, and it’s all natural, so it’s supposed to have no side effects. So it can only do good, Philadelphia. A doctor at a children’s hospital and “Do You Believe in Magic? Vitamins, Supplements, and All Natural: Look Behind the Curtain.”
Offit said some people may benefit from additional vitamin D. Bone Good health because it can help the body absorb calcium and phosphorus.
There are natural ways to get your vitamin D in the sun, but darker-skinned people tend to have lower levels in their bodies because the melanin pigment acts like a shade. Older people also have a harder time absorbing vitamin D from the sun. As with windows, sunscreen can block it.
You can get adequate amounts of vitamin D from foods such as salmon and tuna and fortified beverages such as orange juice and milk. survey show Many people do not meet the recommended daily intake of 10 micrograms (mcg) by age 1, 15 mcg by age 70, and 20 mcg for adults 71 and older.
Pregnant women should take 0.4 to 0.8 milligrams (400 to 800 micrograms) of folic acid supplement daily to prevent neural tube birth defects. task force.
Those who choose to take vitamin D supplements, or other supplements, should be aware that they are only loosely regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and do not have to meet the same stringent standards as vitamin D. It is important to medicine.
with limited regulations investigation Over the years, some supplements have been found to be contaminated or do not contain what is listed on the label.
Experts say it’s a good rule of thumb Only buy supplements with a USP or ConsumerLab label.This means the product has been tested by an independent non-profit organization United States Pharmacopoeial Convention Dietary Supplement Validation Program again ConsumerLab.comVerified products are guaranteed to be free of contamination, such as heavy metals and micro-organisms, that can be harmful to humans, and are guaranteed to be what they claim to be.
Also, whenever you need to go to your doctor to list your medication use, be sure to disclose that you are taking vitamins.
“I don’t think people think of them as drugs. But some of them can interfere with treatment, like drugs, including chemotherapy,” Offitt said. It’s really important for your doctor to know if you’re taking
