Supplements Mean We’re Losing

The latest results from an annual survey on dietary supplements revealed an all-time high for supplement usage among U.S. adults, with 76% reporting they consumed dietary supplements, up five percentage points from last year’s results.

“These findings reinforce the upward trend in usage and confidence seen last year,” stated Nancy Weindruch, VP communications, Council for Responsible Nutrition. “Seeing more than three quarters of Americans taking supplements is an indicator of our industry’s success in bringing products to the marketplace that are valued by the majority of Americans for their role in health and wellness.”

The survey also found that nearly 87% U.S. adults have confidence in the safety, quality and effectiveness of dietary supplements overall. Additionally, 76% of U.S. adults perceive the dietary supplement industry as trustworthy, up three percentage points from last year.

In terms of the types of supplements being taken, the survey found that vitamins/minerals are the most commonly consumed supplement category, consistent with the previous surveys, with 75% of U.S. adults saying they have taken these in the past twelve months. The second most popular category is specialty supplements (38%), followed by herbals/botanicals (29%), sports nutrition supplements (22%) and weight management supplements (15%).

Overall health/wellness benefits is the main reason cited by supplement users for taking dietary supplements (46%). Three in ten consume supplements to fill  nutrient gaps in their diet and similar proportions (28%) use them for energy.

Of those who do not take dietary supplements, nearly half (45%) say they might consider taking supplements in the future if a doctor recommended it to them.

In its eighteenth consecutive year, the CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements serves as the leading resource for statistics on usage of and confidence in dietary supplements. The survey was conducted Aug. 24–28 by Ipsos Public Affairs and was funded by CRN.