Usage
People use dietary supplements for various purposes, either they want to ensure they receive the recommended amounts of essential nutrients in order to be in the safe zone, or they use them with the hope of having a prolonged life with better health, or they use them for specific needs, such as: birth defect prevention, heart health for people diagnosed with heart disease, or bone health for those who have vitamin D malfunction.
In his book, Dietary Supplements in Health Promotion, Wallace highlighted the trend of using supplements, he mentioned that social, technological, and economical global factors drive three trends:
- Increase in prevalence of expensive and life-long non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
- The high economic burden of NCDs demanding higher individual responsibility and active individual participation in disease prevention
- A consequential increase in utilization of self-medication (over-the-counter medication.
| Type of Supplements and Benefits | ||
|---|---|---|
| Supplement | Examples | Purpose |
| Vitamins and Minerals | Vitamin C, Iron, Calcium | Address deficiencies; support overall health |
| Herbs and Botanicals | Echinacea, Ginseng, Turmeric | Claim various health benefits; research varies |
| Fish Oils (Omega-3s) | Fish oil capsules | Support heart health; reduce inflammation |
| Probiotics | Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium | Promote gut health; aid digestion; boost immunity |