Do supplements work?

This question is about Nutrition

Sarah Achleithner

Yes, supplements can work, however, not all supplements are created equal. Furthermore, supplements are not a replacement for consuming a nutrient-dense diet. 

Research has shown that supplementation may have significant benefits for specific groups and indications [

2

]. For example, alpha lipoic acid has been shown to be beneficial for cholesterol reduction and vitamin C may reduce the duration of cold symptoms [

3

,

4

]. 

To maximize the effectiveness of your supplements, look for a personalized supplement service, underpinned by science, that conducts third-party testing on their product (e.g. Elo!). 

At Elo, our Smart Supplement service marries at-home biomarker testing, the latest nutrition research, expert 1:1 coaching to provide exactly the right supplements for you at the right dose.

Learn more about joining Elo

here

.

man holding an assortment of supplements

References:

  1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020, September 3). Office of dietary supplements - dietary supplements: What you need to know. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements.

    https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/WYNTK-Consumer/

  2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2019, January). Using dietary supplements wisely. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

    https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/using-dietary-supplements-wisely

    .  

  3. Baziar, N., Nasli-Esfahani, E., Djafarian, K., Qorbani, M., Hedayati, M., Mishani, M. A., Faghfoori, Z., Ahmaripour, N., & Hosseini, S. (2020). The beneficial effects of Alpha Lipoic acid supplementation On Lp-pla2 mass and its distribution between HDL and apob-containing Lipoproteins in type 2 Diabetic patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 1–13.

    https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5850865

     

  4. Hemilä, H., & Chalker, E. (2013). Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews.

    https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4

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