Experts advise Only in this way can dietary supplements make sense

Many vitamin pills are meaningless - some even harmful to health

Vitamin tablets, mineral capsules and other nutritional supplements are booming. About every third German citizen accesses the preparations. Most consumers are confident that they will do something good for their health - but in many cases this is not the case. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) explains the benefits and health risks of dietary supplements during the International Green Week.

"Many products promise positive effects on health, well-being and performance - but their intake can also be associated with health risks," explains BfR President Professor Dr. med. Dr. Andreas Hensel in a press release. A balanced and varied diet remains the better alternative in most cases. However, there are also situations in which it may be useful to take such preparations.

The nutritional supplement business is in many cases only good for the manufacturers. For most consumers, the benefits are lost. (Image: M. Schuppich / fotolia.com)

Dietary supplements are not medications

The BfR wants to make consumers more sensitive to dietary supplements. This is explained by the Federal Institute on possible risks. Many people are not aware that food supplements are classified as food in Germany. Unlike drugs, they do not have to undergo extensive testing and approval procedures. First and foremost, therefore, the manufacturer himself is responsible for the safety of the products. Thus, the quality of the products can vary greatly. In particular, products distributed on the Internet sometimes do not comply with German and European food regulations. The BfR advises to carefully examine the products and the supplier before buying seriousness.

Supplementary preparations usually superfluous

"In most cases, the intake of dietary supplements is superfluous," emphasize the BfR experts. A balanced and varied diet provides a healthy body with everything it needs. In certain situations, however, there are preparations that make sense.

Food supplements may be useful for these people

For example, it is advantageous for women who want to have children and in the first weeks of pregnancy, in addition to take folic acid. This reduces the risk of a neural tube defect (open back) in the newborn. According to the BfR, people who eat purely vegetable-based foods can benefit from taking vitamin B12, as vegetarian and vegan diets are often under-supplied. The intake of vitamin D is recommended by the BfR for people, in which the natural supply is not ensured by the diet and the body's own formation by sunlight (see vitamin D deficiency). (Vb)