17/12/2022
Benefits
Normally, you should be able to get all the nutrients you need from a balanced diet. However, supplements can provide you with extra nutrients when your diet is lacking or certain health conditions (such as cancer, diabetes, or chronic diarrhea) trigger a deficiency.
In most cases, a multivitamin/mineral supplement will provide all the micronutrients your body needs. They are generally safe because they contain only small amounts of each nutrient (as measured by the daily value, or DV).
Individual nutrients are available as supplements, usually in doses larger than your typical multivitamin. They can be used to treat a deficiency, such as an iron deficiency, or reduce the risk of a medical condition, such as hypertension.2
For example, large doses of vitamin B3 (niacin) can help raise "good" high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol,3 while folic acid has long been used to reduce the risk of a birth defect called spina bifida.4 Antioxidants, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, may reduce the toxic effect of chemotherapy drugs (allowing patients to tolerate larger doses of chemo).5
Unless a specific deficiency is identified, a supplement is usually not necessary if you eat and exercise properly. The appropriate use of supplements can help you avoid side effects and toxicities associated with overuse.
