The nutrition industry has exploded over the past few decades. Mintel's recent press release in 2009 described the vitamins and supplements business in the UK as being worth an estimated £396 million, whilst in the US this figure increases to $23.7 million (Nutrition Business Journal, 2010).
Developments in knowledge and understanding in the field have enabled health professionals to raise the standard of health care and empowered the individual to help themselves. Unfortunately, this progress has also created greater opportunity for the manipulation of public view and for unethical selling and inappropriate recommendation based on incomplete education and/or biased opinion. Part of the problem boils down to the abundance of scientifically dubious information out there, but this is another story.
Does Optimum Nutrition Require Nutritional Supplementation?
Thriving nutrition companies lead the consumer to believe that optimum health is not attainable without artificial supplementation and reinforce the "pill for every ill" ideal. Data about the nutritional adequacy of foods today is rife and yes, there has undoubtedly been a general decline in quality of what we eat (it does not seem possible to mass produce high nutritional quality produce consistently when the processes have such a draining effect on natural resources), but the situation is not as dire as key people in the industry would have the public believe.
Managing Nutritional Inadequacies
For one, the human body s incredibly adept at protecting itself in times of nutritional hardship and in many instances, as the intake of a particular nutrient declines, absorption and utilisation increases. Chronic insufficiencies undeniably cause major problems, but these problems can generally be prevented by readjusting the diet (referred to as the "food first" approach) or through widespread nutritional supplementation (e.g.the mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid in certain countries to reduce the risk of neural tube defects).
Adverse Effects of Nutrient Megadoses
On an individual basis the availability of such a wide range of over the counter nutritional supplements, many of which contain megadoses of vitamins and minerals that one wouldn't find in nature, makes over-supplementation a potential risk, the consequences of which would depend on the particular nutrients in question. For example high dose of vitamin C can lead to stomach upset and diarrhoea (as can magnesium) and megadoses of B vitamins to numbness and tingling in the extremeties. Also, not only can the supplementation of one nutrient mask the deficiency of another, excessive doses can actually contribute to the development of deficiencies in others (for example in the case of iron, zinc and magnesium, which all compete for the same absorption sites).
Dietary Laziness
A reliance on nutritional supplements can lead to laziness with regards to habitual diet in the belief that taking vitamins can constitute a healthy balanced diet, and one has to remember all the benefits of turning to food first in order to enhance nutritional status and improve health. Nutritional supplementation without adequate dietary or lifestyle adjustments tends to treat symptoms rather than getting to the root of problems, a disadvantage shared with conventional Western medicine, and besides this can place considerable strain on the purse strings.
The Advantages of Readily Available Nutritional Supplements
So some of the disadvantages of the over-the-counter availability of nutritional supplements have been discussed, but what about the advantages?
Having easy access to these supplements gives a little power back to the people, because, as mentioned before, it gives the individual the opportunity to help himself in a way that might otherwise necessitate consulting with an (expensive) qualified professional, or if going through the National Health Service (as in the UK) trying to see a health practitioner with a waiting list the length of one's arm. Not good when one's feeling unwell and in need of help.
Increasing the Awareness of Natural Alternatives
There is sufficient information out there to enable the safe and appropriate use of supplements, and by carrying out a little personal detective work the individual may be able to take steps to solve problems that may well be easily alleviated. The availability of nutritional supplements does a good job of raising the awareness of alternative, natural and holistic therapies and lessening the reliance upon expensive pharmaceuticals and medical services, thereby fuelling the hope for more natural ways of dealing with problems, which do not place such a burden upon both the economy and the natural environment.
Reducing the Strain on Health Services
Yes, the evidence is out there. Vitamin C and zinc can boost natural immune defences and cut the duration and severity of minor ailments like the all too well-known common cold, B vitamins may help to combat against fatigue and exhaustion during times of increased stress, and calcium and vitamin D can enhance bone health in vulnerable subgroups of the population. It would certainly be an inconvenience to have to visit a GP to prescribe these kinds of things and it is unlikely that the health service would be able to cope with the increase in demands. Budget and time available simply would not allow for the additional training required for health professionals, or for the consultations themselves, at least not on the NHS.
Psychological Advantages of Taking Control
As a final thought, the psychological benefits of making use of natural treatments should be given consideration. These include the boost in self-esteem and mood that result from feeling a sense of control over one's own health.
The body of evidence supporting the benefits of nutritional supplements continues to mount and there is already an overwhelming argument for their use. It is certainly not a simple picture, but so long as the supplementation regimen is appropriate and the individual well-informed, there is a lot to be said for the current availability of nutritional supplements.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is fro educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
References:
Collins C. for the British Dietetic Association, Nutritional Nirvana - A Pill for Every Ill?, 2005.
mintel.com, Brits return to good old fashioned healthy diet to get their vitamin fix, 2010.
nutritionbusiness.com, Supplements, 2010.
SupplementQuality.com, Scientific Research Documents Health Benefits of Nutritional Supplements, 2002.
Emma Barrington - My background lies in healthcare. I completed my degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics in 2004 obtaining a distinction in my ...
