Researchers surveyed over 1,000 people in Germany to understand why so many take vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements. They found that about 77% of people use supplements, and these users tend to be younger women who care about their health. The study discovered that people take supplements for different reasons—some want to prevent illness, others follow friends’ advice, and some feel they need extra help when sick. Interestingly, people often don’t feel well-informed about supplements, yet they still plan to use more in the future. The research suggests that people’s decisions about supplements are based more on what they believe will help them than on solid scientific evidence.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Why people take dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals, where they get information about them, and whether they plan to take more in the future
  • Who participated: 824 people from Germany who regularly take supplements, selected to represent different ages, genders, education levels, and regions of the country
  • Key finding: Most supplement users are motivated by wanting to stay healthy and prevent disease, but they often don’t feel well-informed about what they’re taking. People who believe supplements help them are more likely to plan using even more supplements in the future.
  • What it means for you: If you take supplements, this research suggests you should seek out better information from reliable sources like doctors or scientific websites. Your beliefs about whether supplements help you strongly influence whether you’ll keep taking them, so it’s worth questioning where those beliefs come from.

The Research Details

This was a snapshot study where researchers asked over 1,000 German people questions about their supplement use at one point in time. They made sure their group of participants matched Germany’s overall population by including people of different ages, genders, education levels, and from different regions. Participants reported which of 61 different supplements they took and answered questions about why they took them, where they learned about supplements, what they thought about the risks and benefits, and whether they planned to take more supplements in the future.

The researchers then looked for patterns in the answers. They wanted to understand what reasons people had for taking supplements and how those reasons connected to other factors like age, health beliefs, and where people got their information. They also examined whether people’s beliefs about risks and benefits predicted whether they planned to use more supplements.

This approach is important because it captures real-world decisions people make about supplements without trying to change their behavior. By asking people about multiple factors at once—their age, health concerns, information sources, and beliefs—the researchers could see how all these pieces fit together. This is more realistic than studying just one reason people take supplements, since real decisions are usually influenced by many things at once.

This study has several strengths: it included a large, representative sample from across Germany, asked about many different supplements, and measured multiple factors that might influence supplement use. However, because it’s a snapshot study, it can only show what’s connected to supplement use, not prove that one thing causes another. The study also relied on people remembering and honestly reporting their supplement use, which might not be perfectly accurate. Additionally, the findings are specific to Germany and might not apply the same way in other countries with different healthcare systems and supplement regulations.

What the Results Show

The study found that about 77% of the people surveyed take dietary supplements regularly. These users tended to be younger, more likely to be female, and more interested in their health compared to people who don’t take supplements. The researchers identified five main reasons why people take supplements: to prevent future health problems, because friends or family use them, because they feel vulnerable or worried about their health, to address unhealthy habits, and for specific situations like traveling or seasonal changes.

When asked where they got information about supplements, most people said they rarely received detailed information from any source. Despite this, they felt moderately informed about supplements. Interestingly, people’s beliefs about whether supplements were risky and whether they were helpful were opposite to each other—those who saw high benefits tended to see low risks, and vice versa. This suggests people might not be weighing both sides equally.

Looking at future plans, people who were younger, motivated by preventing disease or social reasons, and believed supplements were beneficial were most likely to say they planned to take even more supplements. The study suggests that people’s decisions about supplements are based largely on their own positive beliefs rather than on scientific evidence about what actually works.

The research also found that people’s general attitude toward supplements—whether they viewed them positively or negatively overall—was connected to their beliefs about risks and benefits. People who thought supplements were beneficial had more positive attitudes, while those who thought they were risky had more negative attitudes. Additionally, health-literate people (those who understand health information better) were more likely to be supplement users, suggesting that education and interest in health topics play a role in supplement decisions.

This study confirms what earlier research has shown: supplement users tend to be younger, female, and health-conscious. However, it goes further by looking at multiple reasons for use at the same time and examining future intentions. Previous studies often looked at just one or two factors, while this research shows that supplement use is driven by a mix of personal motivations, information sources, and beliefs. The finding that people feel only moderately informed despite using supplements regularly is consistent with other research suggesting that supplement marketing may be more influential than scientific education.

This study has several important limitations. First, it only shows what’s connected to supplement use, not what causes it—for example, we can’t say that believing supplements help actually causes people to use more, just that these two things go together. Second, the study relied on people’s memories and honesty about what supplements they take, which might not be completely accurate. Third, the results are specific to Germany and might not apply the same way in other countries. Fourth, the study didn’t measure actual health outcomes, so we don’t know whether supplement use actually made people healthier. Finally, the study didn’t explore why people feel poorly informed despite using supplements, which could be an important factor.

The Bottom Line

If you take supplements, consider these evidence-based steps: (1) Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about which supplements you’re taking and why, as they can help you understand whether they’re actually helpful for your situation. (2) Look for information from reliable sources like medical websites, scientific journals, or health professionals rather than relying on marketing or friends’ recommendations alone. (3) Be honest with yourself about why you’re taking supplements—are you trying to prevent a real health problem, or are you taking them because you believe they’ll help without clear evidence? (4) Remember that feeling informed and actually being informed are different things, so seek out quality information even if you feel like you already know enough. Confidence level: Moderate—these recommendations are based on the study’s findings but should be discussed with healthcare providers for individual situations.

This research matters for anyone who takes vitamins, minerals, or herbal supplements, as well as their doctors and family members. It’s especially relevant for younger people and women, who the study found are more likely to use supplements. Healthcare providers should care about this research because it shows that supplement users often don’t feel well-informed, suggesting there’s a gap between what people believe about supplements and what scientific evidence actually shows. People should NOT use this study as a reason to stop taking supplements prescribed or recommended by their doctor—rather, it’s a reason to have informed conversations with healthcare providers about supplement use.

This study doesn’t measure how long it takes to see benefits from supplements, since it’s based on people’s beliefs rather than actual health outcomes. If you’re considering starting or changing your supplement use based on this research, you should expect to see results on the same timeline as the original reason you’re taking them—but discuss realistic expectations with your healthcare provider. Changes in supplement use decisions might happen fairly quickly once you have better information, but actual health benefits would depend on the specific supplement and your individual situation.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your supplement intake by logging each supplement you take daily, including the name, dose, and your reason for taking it (prevent illness, energy, immune support, etc.). Rate your confidence level in why you’re taking each one on a scale of 1-10, and note where you learned about it. This helps you see patterns in your supplement use and identify which ones you’re most confident about.
  • Use the app to set a goal of researching one supplement per week from a reliable health source (like your doctor, pharmacist, or medical websites). Log what you learned and whether it changed your thinking about that supplement. This practical step addresses the study’s finding that people feel only moderately informed about supplements they’re taking.
  • Create a monthly review in the app where you assess your supplement use: Are you taking supplements for reasons supported by evidence? Have you discussed them with your healthcare provider? Are you noticing any actual health benefits? Track whether your reasons for taking supplements shift over time and whether you’re making more informed decisions. Set reminders to revisit this quarterly and adjust your supplement routine based on new information.

This research describes why people take supplements and their beliefs about them, but it does not prove that supplements are safe or effective for any particular condition. The study was conducted in Germany and findings may not apply to other countries. If you take dietary supplements or are considering starting them, consult with your doctor or pharmacist before making any changes, especially if you take medications, have health conditions, or are pregnant or nursing. Dietary supplements are not regulated the same way as medications and may have risks or interact with other substances. This article is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.