The trend toward vitamin D, fish oil and probiotics over the traditional multivitamin

9 years ago | Supplements

By pH health care professionals

Americans’ use of supplements has remained consistent over the years, with just over half saying they take supplements. But the supplements of choice are changing.

A new study published in JAMA found that fewer Americans are taking a multivitamin, whereas vitamin D, fish oil and probiotic supplements are rising in popularity.

Researchers looked at data from nearly 38,000 U.S. adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (a yearly health interview from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). And the results aren’t that surprising, says lead researcher Elizabeth Kantor. “I did expect to see that vitamin D use would go up, and that fish oil would go up,” she said. After all, both have been the focus of a lot of research and media attention.

In fact, the health care professionals at Proactive Health Labs have written quite a bit about the benefits of vitamin D, fish oil and probiotics! If you are taking these supplements, or if you are considering taking them, here are some of their benefits with links to related articles for more information.

Vitamin D:

Vitamin D may be beneficial for asthma, bone health, cancer prevention, hives, macular degeneration, memory, migraines and uterine fibroids -- to name a few.

Fish oil:

Fish oil, rich in omega fatty acids, may be beneficial for your heart, brain, eyes, joints, immune system, skin, mood, as well as key functions like for fighting inflammation and supporting a growing fetus.

Probiotics:

Probiotics, touted for their digestive benefits for constipation, diarrhea and IBS, have also been studied for their effects on anxiety and depression, lowering cholesterol, oral health, immunity, and even breast cancer risk.

So, which way should you go?

How do you know if you should take a multivitamin or go for individual supplements? First, you need to know which nutrients you are lacking in your diet. For example, the amount of vitamin D your body needs may be different than the amount of vitamin D your neighbor needs -- and taking too much of certain vitamins, like D, can be detrimental.

The most accurate way to ensure you are taking only the supplements you need, and taking them in just the right doses in order to optimize your levels, is with a nutrition lab test. It should come with a comprehensive report, showing you where your levels could improve, which foods you should eat, and how much you may need to supplement. A doctor will review the results with you.

Interested in more on supplements?

Check out our blog on the importance of omega 3’s. Discover which type is good for helping with mood vs. heart.

Enjoy Your Healthy Life!

The pH professional health care team includes recognized experts from a variety of health care and related disciplines, including physicians, health care attorneys, nutritionists, nurses and certified fitness instructors. To learn more about the pH Health Care Team, click here.