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    "original_url": "https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/09\/11\/well\/eat\/dietary-supplements-survey-findings.html?emc=edit_ufn_20260922&nl=from-the-times&segment_id=226904",
    "parsed_content": "AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTSupported bySKIP ADVERTISEMENTAmericans Love Supplements, but Experts Doubt Their BenefitsA new survey found that 8 in 10 Americans were taking vitamins, protein powders or other supplements. But experts said there is little evidence for many of these products.Listen \u00b7 5:26 min Share full articleCredit...Ghazalle Badiozamani for The New York TimesBy Alice CallahanSept. 11, 2026A new survey suggests that nearly eight in ten adults in the United States are currently taking at least one dietary supplement, including one in three people who are using protein powders, bars and drinks.The survey, conducted by Pew Research Center, was small. But it suggests that supplements, long used by many Americans, are becoming ever more popular \u2014 even as medical experts say that many of these products are unlikely to meaningfully improve health.\u201cI would guess that well over 80, 90 percent of supplement consumption doesn\u2019t offer any proven benefit to the person who\u2019s taking it,\u201d said Dr. Pieter Cohen, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.Of the 3,554 U.S. adults surveyed, 31 percent reported taking protein supplements, with use highest among adults under age 50.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTVitamins and minerals were the most commonly reported supplement type, taken by 67 percent of participants. The survey also found that 25 percent of people were taking omega-3, fish oil or krill oil supplements and nearly 20 percent were taking herbal supplements, like ginseng or ashwagandha, an Ayurvedic herb.There are good reasons to take dietary supplements, for example to treat a nutrient deficiency or to prevent birth defects, said Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist and the founder of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. \u201cBut that\u2019s the minority,\u201d he added.People often take omega-3 supplements because they believe they will improve their heart or brain health, for instance, but most clinical trials have failed to find those benefits.And most people probably don\u2019t need protein supplements, Dr. Topol said.\u201cPeople have this paranoia that they\u2019re not getting enough\u201d protein, he said, perhaps because of influencers who have promoted the idea that people should consume far more than the recommended amount. But in reality, most people already consume enough protein from the foods they eat, Dr. Topol said.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTThe Pew survey found that more women than men were taking protein supplements, a finding that surprised Stuart Phillips, a professor of kinesiology at McMaster University in Canada. Until recently, he said, it was more common for men to supplement with protein. The increase in use among women may reflect greater attention to their protein needs on social media, which has some merit since women are more likely than men to fall short on protein, he said.Get updates when new midterm election polls are added to our poll trackers. When new polling data drops we\u2019ll send an update straight to your inbox. Get it sent to your inbox.The popularity of protein supplements may also be partly linked to the growing use of GLP-1 medications, and the belief that consuming extra protein may help stave off muscle loss that can accompany the use of the weight loss medications, Dr. Phillips said.Regardless of sex or medication use, it is important to consume enough protein, Dr. Phillips said. But to build or maintain muscle, he added, resistance training is more important than protein consumption. And it\u2019s better to get your protein from food sources, because they provide other beneficial nutrients.\u201cSupplements are convenient, but they are not necessary,\u201d he said.While previous estimates of supplement use have varied, research suggests that it has increased in recent decades, said Elizabeth Kantor, an epidemiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In June, she and her colleagues published a study that included more than 63,000 U.S. adults, surveyed between 1999 and 2023. Over that time, the researchers found, supplement use climbed to 60 percent from 51 percent of adults.The rise in supplement use may be driven in part by claims of their benefits on social media, many of which are unsubstantiated, Dr. Topol said. It may also be \u201ca reflection of the longevity fixation, that these are going to be the ticket to expanding life span,\u201d he said.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENT\u201cBut we don\u2019t have any data for that either,\u201d he added.Both the Pew data and the study by Dr. Kantor found that supplement use was greatest in those ages 65 years or older. That\u2019s unsurprising, Dr. Cohen said, because doctors often recommend that older adults take supplements like multivitamins, calcium or vitamin D, though the evidence supporting the benefits of those supplements is mixed.People may choose to take dietary supplements for a variety of reasons, said Gretchen Zimmermann, a registered dietitian and a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. But they should keep in mind that supplement companies don\u2019t have to prove their products are safe or effective before selling them. And supplements can come with risks, like toxicity from high doses of vitamins or minerals, liver damage from certain herbal supplements or interactions with medications. Always talk with a doctor before taking a supplement, Ms. Zimmermann said.The global supplement industry is valued at an estimated $228 billion, according to Grand View Research, a market research firm. \u201cMost of these are a waste of money,\u201d Dr. Topol said. \u201cThere\u2019s no data to support them, but it enriches your urine.\u201dAdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENT",
    "published_at": "2026-09-11T16:42:10+00:00",
    "author_name": "Alice Callahan",
    "site_name": "The New York Times",
    "section": "Well",
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    "ai_headline": "Americans Love Supplements, but Experts Doubt Their Benefits",
    "ai_simplified_title": "Americans Use Supplements, Experts Doubt Benefits",
    "ai_excerpt": "A new survey reveals that nearly 8 in 10 U.S. adults take dietary supplements, including protein powders, vitamins, and herbal remedies. Despite their popularity, medical experts question the efficacy of most supplements, citing a lack of scientific evidence for their health benefits.",
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