People were often discouraged to make use of nutritional supplements by medical practitioners, as a healthy balanced diet was regarded to supply sufficient nutrition.

Nutritional Deficiencies and Disease

A landmark article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in June 2002 changed this perception significantly. Researchers reviewed studies of the relationships between vitamin intake and various diseases published between 1966 and 2002. They concluded that sub-optimal levels of vitamin intake are associated with increased risk of contracting a variety of chronic diseases, including cancer and heart disease. They also highlighted groups of people that are more susceptible to suffer from nutritional deficiencies.

Groups of people with increased requirements generally include:

* The elderly
* Pregnant and breastfeeding women
* Vegans
* People using chronic medication
* Athletes and active people
* People suffering from HIV / AIDS
* People with mal-absorption
* Alcohol-dependent individuals

Shortly after publication of this article, the Council for Responsible Nutrition released a comprehensive report entitled “The Benefits if Nutritional Supplements” on June 24, 2002.

Highlights from the report finding include:

* The incidence of neural tube defects like spina bifida can be reduced by 70%, if all women of childbearing age used multivitamins with folic acid.
* The routine use of multivitamins and mineral supplements could improve immune function and thus reduce infectious disease, potentially halving the number of days they are sick.
* Supplementation with calcium and vitamin D could reduce the rate of hip fracture among older people by at least 20% - potentially meaning 40 000 – 50 000 fewer hip fractures each year in the USA.
* The potential cost savings of a prevention-orientated approach to health and diet are tremendous. A 1997 analysis predicted that if the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, stroke and hip fracture were delayed five years, total US health care cost savings could equal $89 billion annually.

Nutritional supplements should not be used as an excuse for eating an unhealthy or unbalanced diet, but to help optimise nutritional intake to maintain good health.