Wisdom of traditional nutrition with cutting-edge science

OVER the last few decades, dietary supplements have shifted from niche remedies to household staples.

- A SARANYA

Once primarily aimed at treating vitamin and mineral deficiencies, they now occupy a central role in many people’s daily wellness routines. In the United States alone, nearly half of all adults and about one in three children use these products regularly. This transformation reflects a combination of scientific progress, evolving consumer habits, and a growing focus on preventive health.

Researchers emphasise that supplement science has moved far beyond its early role of preventing illnesses like scurvy. Modern approaches now examine how supplements can help maintain peak health, boost resilience, and lower the risk of chronic conditions. On the market side, sales of vitamins, minerals, herbal formulas, and other nutritional products have climbed steadily year after year, driven by the booming wellness sector and innovative new formulations.

The story of dietary supplements begins with the early discoveries in nutrition science. In the 18th and 19th centuries, medical pioneers identified clear links between specific nutrients and certain diseases—such as citrus fruits preventing scurvy or iodine preventing goitre. These insights led to public health measures like adding iodine to salt and enriching flour with B vitamins.

By the mid-20th century, scientists formalised nutrient guidelines, introducing Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) to define optimal intake levels. In 1943, US codified these guidelines, and by the 1970s, the broader Dietary Reference Intake system emerged to address not just deficiencies but overall health maintenance.

A major regulatory milestone came in 1994, when the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) established rules for supplement production and labelling in US and created the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) at the National Institutes of Health. Since then, the ODS has supported research, conducted safety and efficacy reviews, and developed laboratory methods to ensure product quality.