Role of Supplements in the Diet

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What are Supplements?Diet supplements are nutrient substances that are ingested in addition to a normal daily diet. The main diet

supplements are;

● Vitamin Supplements

● Mineral Supplements

● Protein Supplements

Health food stores, pharmacies and supermarkets sell

a wide range of supplement products providing

individual vitamins, multivitamin combinations,

minerals, fibre and protein, in the form of tablets,

capsules, liquids and powders.

Consumers decide on their own to purchase and

consume supplements, based on fears about the

nutritional value of their diets. Sometimes the

marketing used to sell supplements plays on these

fears.

What are Supplements?

● Busy lives often leave less time for carefully prepared diets and meals.

● Frequent intake of processed food due to the greater disposable income of the average family

and less time for food preparation.

● People becoming more health conscious and aiming to prevent nutritional diseases.

Why has the Consumption of Supplements Increased?

Instead of making sure they have a balanced diet naturally, many people,choose to supplement their diet with

nutrient pills. The debate over the value of supplements lies in the fact that individuals may be ingesting

supplements without actually needing them.

The problem with Supplements

52% of Australians take some type of dietary supplement. That is 1 in 5 people.

How many people use Supplements in Australia?

What does this graph tell us?

Vitamin Supplements The food supply in Australia is wide and varied.

Most people have access to the right foods for a healthy and balanced diet, which should provide all the

vitamins required by the body. For this reason, vitamin deficiencies are rare in Australia.

Vitamins taken in excess can have side effects.

Excess Consumption of Water Soluble Vitamins (C and B Complex)

Excess Consumption of Fat Soluble Vitamins (A, D, E and K)

Excess is excreted in the urine with little effect.

Excess is stored in body fat and can build up to toxic levels.

Who needs Vitamin Supplements?

● Some groups in the community do have vitamin requirements, the most

obvious being pregnant women. Pregnant women need to increase their

intake of certain vitamins, especially folate. Quite a high dose of folate is

recommended for prevention of neural tube defects in the unborn baby

and many pregnant women find this difficult to achieve with food alone.

● Scientific evidence increasingly suggests that there is no health benefit

to taking supplements of Vitamin E, Beta-Carotene or Vitamin C.

Vitamin Supplements

A balanced diet should be able to provide all the minerals required for good health. However, there is some

evidence of mineral deficiencies in Australia, mainly calcium, iron and iodine.

Mineral supplements can be dangerous, because the body stores most minerals and requires only very small

amounts for day-to-day processes.

Minerals taken in excess can have side effects.

Mineral Supplements

Excess Consumption of Minerals

Some mineral supplements cause diarrhoea.

Iron supplements may cause constipation.

Who needs Mineral Supplements?

● Iron supplementation may be needed in people who are

unable to consume enough iron in their diet to meet

increased needs - teenage girls, women, vegetarians and

athletes are most at risk of developing anaemia.

● Those people with a dairy allergy may need to take calcium

supplements.

● Most parts of Australia have a low level or iodine in the soil,

and this has resulted in a low level in foods. Lack of iodine

may lead to thyroid problems, mental problems, hearing loss

and goitre.

Mineral Supplements

Benefits● They give a feeling of well being, e.g: there is

a belief that Vitamin C can prevent colds, which makes some people feel good.

● Busy lifestyles leave for adequate time for planning and food preparation.

● Required for certain conditions, e,g: iron for anaemia, folate for pregnancy and calcium for osteoporosis.

● Special needs such as those of athletes and vegetarians must be met.

● Monitored by FSANZ to ensure that the products are safe.

Risks

● Not necessary if consuming a balanced diet. Excess Vitamin C, for instance, is excreted from the body.

● Self-diagnosis can be dangerous, especially if no medical; advice is sought. For instance; excess fat-soluble vitamins such as Vitamin A can be toxic and excess fibre can prevent calcium absorption.

● An excessive intake of protein causes weight gain, rather than muscle if the protein is not used for growth or energy.

● Dietary supplements can be expensive. For example; Blackmores Odourless Fish Oil $25 for 500 capsules.

● The labelling and marketing of these products can be misleading.

● There is a lack of research and evidence into the long-term use and actual role of some supplements in the body. For example; herbal supplements.