Summary
While over 75% of Americans take dietary supplements, research shows mixed results regarding their efficacy and safety.
Only a small fraction of supplements are rigorously tested, and the FDA has limited oversight, treating them as food rather than pharmaceuticals.
Some supplements, like multivitamins, may offer modest benefits, while others, particularly those with “mega doses,” can be harmful or ineffective.
Experts emphasize that most people can meet their nutritional needs through a healthy diet, though supplements may benefit those lacking access to diverse foods.
Misleading claims and a desire for health control drive their popularity.
The problem is always the same, you can’t patent it so nobody will pay for a trial to prove it works.
This is always repeated, but the fact is around 90% of people don’t.
Plus filling in nutrition gaps isn’t the only reason people take supplements. I take turmeric for inflammation, as recommended by my doctor.
I wonder if the article’s title wasn’t written by the author (made more click baity by an editor or something). Because the article’s point seems to be pushing for better testing and quality control to weed out the bad products.