What are Food Supplements and Who Needs Them?

• What are food suplements?
• Examples of population groups requiring specific advice about supplements
• References
• Particular risks for specific population groups
• Conclusion
• Who needs food supplements?

There are many food supplements on the market but who are they for? When are they beneficial or even harmful? In this article we explore general recommendations for taking dietary supplements.

What are food suplements?

The idea behind food supplements (also called dietary or nutritional supplements) is to provide nutrients that may not be consumed in sufficient amounts. Food supplements can be vitamins minerals amino acids fatty acids and other substances available in the form of pills tablets capsules liquids Etc. 1 Supplements come in a variety of doses and in different combinations. However our bodies only need certain amounts of each nutrient to function and higher amounts are not necessarily better. In high doses some substances may have adverse effects and may become harmful. for Therefore for consumer health protection reasons it should only be legally marketed with an appropriate daily dosage recommendation and a warning statement not to exceed that dosage.

Supplement use varies in Europe. For example it is common in Germany and Denmark (43% and 59% of the adult population respectively) but less common in Ireland and Spain (23% and 9% respectively). Women use supplements more than men. 2.3.4.5.6


Who needs food supplements?

Supplements are not a substitute for a balanced healthy diet. 1 A diet high in fruits and vegetables whole grains adequate protein and healthy fats should generally provide all the nutrients your body needs to be healthy. Most European countries agree to information aimed at the public Food-based dietary guidelines should be focused on. 7 Supplements are not mentioned in these guidelines but certain groups or individuals may need advice on supplements even when eating a healthy and balanced diet namely women of childbearing age who take certain medications.

Due in part to our modern lifestyle not everyone can eat a healthy diet. In Europe dietary surveys indicate suboptimal intake of several micronutrients. 28 The EU-funded EURRECA project found that vitamin C vitamin D calcium selenium folate and iodine. 9 A recent comparison of national surveys shows that there is a general concern for vitamin D intake while mineral intake may be lower in certain age groups. 2 For example Denmark France Poland Germany and the UK.2 Iron deficiency status in young women also increases the risk of low birth weight iron deficiency and delayed brain development in infants at birth. 10 Folate status is also important for women who may become pregnant. They are advised to take folic acid before conception and continue taking it for the first time 12 weeks pregnant. Adequate folate status can reduce the risk of a baby developing neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Recent studies have shown that 50-70% of Europeans have poor vitamin D status. 21112 Because vitamin D status depends not only on dietary intake but also on Exposure to UV rays may make the case for vitamin D supplementation recommended in Nordic countries more compelling. In some countries including the UK Ireland the Netherlands and Sweden vitamin D supplementation has been recommended for certain groups of people although There are calls for more research.

Other frequently asked questions are shown in Table 1 although the groups considered at risk are not the same in different countries.

Examples of groups of people who need specific advice on supplements

Population group	Nutrients
People over age 50	Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, folate Frail elderly may benefit from a low-dose multivitamin supplement.
Women of childbearing age	Folic acid and vitamin D, possibly iron
Children under age 5	Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, although children with a good appetite who eat a wide variety of food may not need them.
Breastfeeding individuals	Vitamin D
People with insufficient sun exposure or darker skin	Vitamin D
Vegans	Vitamin B12, vitamin D2

Specific Risks for Specific Populations

While playing a role in some people's health not all supplements work for everyone. In fact certain supplements especially in large doses are not recommended for some people. Some studies suggest that multivitamins increase the risk of nutrient intake too much And it has been suggested that more consideration should be given to micronutrient intake from food when formulating multivitamins. 2 People should take extra care to read labels and make sure the supplement is right for them. For pregnant women such as supplements Contains vitamin A (retinol) including cod liver oil which may be harmful and cause birth defects if the recommended dose is greatly exceeded or prolonged over time.

The study also highlights that smokers should be wary of some supplements especially high doses of beta-carotene. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) considered this evidence and concluded that in general beta-carotene exposures below 15 mg per day are safe population including smokers. 13


Conclusion

Certain groups of people are advised to take specific supplements. The general message is: follow a healthy balanced diet read labels of supplements and fortified foods carefully and avoid taking multiple doses above the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). If in doubt please consult A nutritionist or doctor before choosing dietary supplements.

References

1. European Commission Food Supplements Sector
2. Mensink GB Fletcher R Gurinovic M et al. (2012). Mapping low micronutrient intakes across Europe. British Journal of Nutrition 14: 1-19.
3. Beitz R Mensink GB Rams S et al. (year 2004). Vitamin and Mineral Supplements in Germany (Using Vitamin and Mineral Supplements in Germany). Bundesgesundheitsblatt Health Research Health Protection 47: 1057-1065.
4. Tetens I Biltoft-Jensen A Spagner C et al. (2011). Micronutrient intake in Danish adult users and non-dietary supplement users. Food and Nutrition Research 55:7153.
5. Keeley M (2001). Northern/Southern Ireland Food Consumption Survey. Summary report on anthropometric attitude data and physical activity patterns on food and nutrient intake. Irish University Nutrition Consortium.
6. Rovira MA Grau M Castañer O et al. (2013). Dietary supplement use and health-related behaviors in Mediterranean populations. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 45(5):386-391.
7. EUFIC Review (2009). Food-based dietary guidelines for Europe.
8. Trosch B (2012). Dietary surveys suggest that lower than recommended intakes of vitamins are common in representative Western countries. British Journal of Nutrition 108(4):692-8.
9. EU project EURRECA website.
10. Radlowski EC & Johnson RW (2013). Perinatal iron deficiency and neurocognitive development. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 7:585.
11. Ovesen L Andersen R & Jakobsen J (2003). Geographical differences in vitamin D status especially in European countries. Journal of the Nutrition Society 62(4):813-821.
12. Perez-Lopez FR Brincat M Erel CT et al. (2012). EMAS position statement: Vitamin D and postmenopausal health. Mature 71:83-88.
13. European Food Safety Authority (2012). Safety statement regarding beta-carotene use in heavy smokers. EFSA Journal 10(12):2953.