Are personalized vitamins safe?

This question is about Nutrition

Sarah Achleithner

Yes, personalized vitamins can be safe, however, supplements depend on the company, and the quality of their products.

Personalized vitamins are vitamins, minerals and other bioactive compounds tailored to one’s individual health and nutrition needs. According to research, more than 50% of U.S. adults use some form of dietary supplements, though most are not personalized [

1

]. According to a 2018 study published in the journal Nutrients, several large-scaled, randomized controlled trials have found that multivitamin supplements may reduce the risk of certain cancers and potentially cardiovascular disease, and are associated with a lower prevalence of inadequacy for 15 of 17 nutrients examined [

1

,

2

]. 

Although supplements can be beneficial for some, they can be dangerous too when taken without proper supervision or guidance. Many supplements offer more than the daily recommended allowance which, in some circumstances, can lead to nutrient toxicity [

2

]. To find the safest supplements, look for

third party testing and certifications

, such as NSF, USP and Informed Sport. Furthermore, supplement dosage should be tailored to your individual needs, goals, and nutrient levels.

Elo vitamin D supplement pack

References:

  1. Blumberg, J. B., Frei, B. B., Fulgoni, V. L., Weaver, C. M., & Zeisel, S. H. (2017). Impact of Frequency of Multi-Vitamin/Multi-Mineral Supplement Intake on Nutritional Adequacy and Nutrient Deficiencies in U.S. Adults. Nutrients, 9(8), 849. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9080849

  2. Blumberg, J. B., Bailey, R. L., Sesso, H. D., & Ulrich, C. M. (2018). The Evolving Role of Multivitamin/Multimineral Supplement Use among Adults in the Age of Personalized Nutrition. Nutrients, 10(2), 248.

    https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10020248

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