![\"Supplements](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1_Closeup-green-blue-antibiotic-capsule-pills-in-blister-pack-Antimicrobial-drug-resistance-Pharmace.jpeg\")
Supplements promise everything from increased energy to radiant skin, but are they effective or are we simply falling for the marketing hype(Image: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\nWhether it’s for an energy boost, glowing skin or general health, supplements supposedly do it all. But do they really deliver on everything they say or are we just buying into the hype<\/p>\n
08:00, 13 Apr 2025Updated 08:27, 14 Apr 2025<\/p>\n
Supplements promise everything from increased energy to radiant skin, but are they effective or are we simply falling for the marketing hype(Image: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
I never used to be a supplement<\/a> person, but somewhere between chasing clearer skin, better sleep, and sharper focus, I found myself popping five different pills a day. And I\u2019m far from the only one. Reports from Fortune Business Insights show that over 60% of consumers worldwide take vitamins<\/a> daily, with 55% turning to supplements<\/a> to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle.<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t wake up one day and decide to become a supplement person. It started small, with magnesium for sleep and vitamin D in winter, and now I\u2019ve got a line-up of powders and pills that I genuinely feel help me function better. And it turns out I\u2019m part of a much bigger shift. The global supplement market was worth around \u00a3146 billion last year, according to Fact MR<\/a>, and it\u2019s only growing as more people, like me, look for ways to ease anxiety, boost energy, support immunity, and slow down the signs of ageing. Whether it\u2019s placebo or the real deal, I\u2019ve noticed a difference, and clearly, I\u2019m not alone.<\/p>\n Not everyone\u2019s convinced supplements are necessary. Tracy Parker, a senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation<\/a>, explains that most people can get everything they need from a well-balanced diet. \u201cSupplements are not necessary if you can eat a healthy, varied, balanced diet, which should provide all the energy, vitamins, and minerals you need,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n The one exception? Vitamin D. \u201cIt is recommended during autumn and winter that we all take 10 micrograms a day of vitamin D supplement because vitamin D is mainly produced within our bodies with the help of sunlight,\u201d she says. \u201cJust a little vitamin D comes directly from foods like milk, mushrooms, salmon, and eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n Millions of people take supplements daily, convinced that their diets alone aren\u2019t giving them what they need. And according to Professor Paul Clayton, a clinical pharmacologist and LYMA\u2019s<\/a> Director of Science, they might be right. He argues that modern lifestyles have created a gap between what our bodies need and what our diets actually provide.<\/p>\n Some experts argue that the rise in supplement use is a direct response to the disconnect between our modern lifestyles and our biological makeup. Professor Paul Clayton explains, \u201cThe modern diet and lifestyle are both dramatically different from the conditions we evolved in. Our genome and metabolome , however, have not kept up, which has led to the emergence of the non-communicable, degenerative diseases as the main cause of illness and death.\u201d<\/p>\n He explains that a lot of people in this day and age are deficient in essential nutrients. However, this isn’t necessarily because they eat poorly, but instead because the food we’re consuming isn’t what it used to be. Professor Clayton says: “Due to low levels of physical activity and the nutrient-depleted but calorie-dense modern diets, most people today are low in most micro- and phytonutrients, which is why supplements are so important today; they bridge the gap which has emerged between what we need, and what the modern diet no longer provides.”<\/p>\n According to Clayton, it\u2019s not just about vitamins and minerals it’s a broader issue stemming from the average diet, \u201cThere is a wide range of phytonutrients, such as the carotenoids, xanthophylls, polyphenols and prebiotic fibres, that are lacking in the modern diet, and their relative absence in modern ultra-processed foods hurts us too.\u201d<\/p>\n This perspective is one of the reasons why people have embraced supplements so readily. A study by Food Standards Agency UK <\/a>showed that 13% of Brits who take supplements chose to do so to combat essential nutrients they are missing from their diets. There\u2019s a growing awareness that today\u2019s food differs from what it was a few decades ago. A 2004 study conducted in the US<\/a> found that essential nutrients in some garden crops are up to 38% lower than in the middle of the 20th Century. On average, across the 43 vegetables analysed, calcium content declined 16%, iron 15%, and phosphorus 9%.<\/p>\n The vitamins riboflavin and ascorbic acid both dropped significantly. At the same time, protein levels declined slightly, with soil depletion, industrial farming, and processed food reducing the natural nutrients available in what we eat. Supplements, for many, are an insurance policy, <\/strong>a way to ensure they are getting everything their body needs.<\/p>\n But while some see supplements as a way to fill gaps, others view them as a way to optimise their health beyond what a regular diet can provide. Lucy Goff, founder of LYMA, started her brand after realising that most supplements on the market weren\u2019t formulated for effectiveness. She tells the Mirror<\/a>: “Almost everything I was taking and most supplements aren\u2019t proven to work, and are incredibly under-dosed or not formulated in a way that the body can absorb them”.<\/p>\n Her solution was to work with Professor Clayton to create LYMA, a supplement designed to be backed by scientific research. \u201cThe LYMA Supplement can improve sleep, reduce stress, boost energy, enhance skin health, support mental clarity, aid metabolic reset, and promote overall well-being,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n Supplements are also now being used as a tool for peak performance rather than just deficiency prevention. Which is what\u2019s driving much of the industry\u2019s growth. People don\u2019t just want to avoid illness; they want to feel their best. They want more energy, better skin, sharper focus, and improved sleep. Supplements have become part of a broader wellness culture prioritising self-care and optimisation. Research found in 2018 by the Food Standards Agency UK<\/a> shows that 46% of Brits take supplements as a way to improve their overall health, while 21% of users rely on supplements for an energy boost.<\/p>\n Do supplements actually work?<\/p>\n The answer depends on what you’re taking and why. If you eat a whole-food, unprocessed diet and live an active, healthy lifestyle, you may not need standard multivitamins. But for those with dietary gaps, high-stress levels, or specific health goals, high-quality, research-backed supplements can be beneficial. They won\u2019t replace a poor diet or an unhealthy lifestyle, but they can support overall well-being, particularly when designed with proper formulation and dosing in mind.<\/p>\n Social media is filled with influencers showcasing their “supplement stacks,” experimenting with nootropics (also known as ‘smart drugs’) <\/strong>for cognitive enhancement and sharing biohacking tips to increase longevity. The supplement industry isn\u2019t just about health, it\u2019s about aspiration, about becoming the best possible version of yourself.<\/p>\n However, this mindset can sometimes lead to overuse. Tracy Parker, senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation, <\/strong>warns that more isn\u2019t always better: \u201cPeople may think supplements are healthier than food because they contain high levels of vitamins and minerals. But more is not always better.”<\/p>\n Tracy adds, “For example, excessive intakes of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamins A, E, and beta-carotene have not been shown to benefit cardiovascular health and may even increase the risk of death. Therefore, it is a good idea to avoid those supplements that exceed 100% of the daily recommended intake for vitamins and minerals.\u201d<\/p>\n Professor Clayton agrees that taking too many supplements can be counterproductive. He references Paracelsus, Swiss physician often referred to as the father of toxicology, who said: “Everything is toxic, it is just a matter of the dose.”<\/p>\n Clayton explains: \u201cThere are distinct and well-known hazards linked to over-supplementing. For example, smokers should not take high-dose beta carotene supplements, which have been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer, or if you take mega-doses of vitamin C, you need to ensure you stay well hydrated to reduce the risk of kidney stones.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Last](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_Cropped-shot-of-an-unrecognisable-woman-standing-alone-in-her-kitchen-and-taking-her-vitamins.jpg\")
Last year, the global supplement market reached an value of approximately \u00a3146 billion, as reported by Fact MR(Image: Getty Images)READ MORE: Best sleep supplements that really work according to our testers \u2013 starting from \u00a39<\/a>Do we need supplements?<\/p>\n![\"Many](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_A-pile-of-pills-in-blister-packs.jpg\")
Many individuals today opt to take vitamins and supplements to combat poor eating habits(Image: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n