Lecture on Dietary Supplements

Introduction

• Personal anecdote about taking Vitamin C as a child.
• Increased curiosity about dietary supplements as an adult.
• Statistic: In 2020, about 1/3 of the UK population consumed dietary supplements, a 19% increase from 2019.

What Are Dietary Supplements?

• Products intended to supplement the diet.
• Examples: Multivitamins, Omega-3, Turmeric, Protein, Green Tea, Calcium, etc.
• Can be prescribed or bought over-the-counter.

Global Perspective

• WHO reports common deficiencies: Iron, Vitamin A, Iodine.
• Over 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies globally.
• Supplements help control or eliminate deficiencies.
• Beneficial for people with malabsorption syndrome, pregnant women, restrictive diets.

Over-the-Counter Supplements

• US leads in global dietary supplement sales, followed by China and Germany.
• Global market was $140.36 billion in 2020, expected to reach $151.85 billion by 2021.
• Discrepancy: 86% of Americans take supplements, but only 21% have a confirmed deficiency.

Reasons for Popularity

1. Health & Fitness Focus:
   • Young people are more health-conscious.
   • Taking control of health through supplements.
2. Social Media Influence:
   • Unrealistic body images drive supplement use.
   • Incorrect information about supplements is prevalent.
3. Convenience:
   • Busy lifestyles lead to reliance on supplements over a balanced diet.

Issues with Dietary Supplements

• Effectiveness:
  • Cannot prevent chronic disease or death.
  • Studies show supplements may have no or negative impact on health.
• Absorption:
  • Nutrients in supplements harder to absorb than in natural foods.
• Overdosing Risks:
  • Toxicity from overdose, e.g., iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin D.
• Regulation Issues:
  • Not properly regulated as medical products.
  • Supplements are regulated as food not drugs by the FDA.
  • Can interfere with medications.

Case Studies

• Australia: Man needed a liver transplant after consuming protein shakes with green tea extract.
• UK: Man required urgent liver transplant after taking green tea pills.

Calls for Regulation

• Need for global regulation as medications.
• Laws required to prevent overdose.
• Promotion of healthy eating over supplements.

Conclusion

• Many professionals argue against dependence on supplements.
• Emphasize spending on quality fresh food.
• NHS and WHO endorse a balanced diet for necessary nutrients.
• Personal shift to a balanced diet over supplements.
• Encouragement to embrace healthy eating habits.