Every third person takes supplements - New maximum recommended amounts

Maximum recommended levels for vitamins and minerals in dietary supplements

About every third adult regularly takes supplements, about a quarter more than one product per day. According to experts, such remedies are often just rip-offs, but some can even harm your health. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has now updated its maximum recommended levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements.

Almost every third German adult takes supplements

As reported by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), about 25 to 30 percent of adults in Germany regularly use dietary supplements (NEMs). Around a quarter of them take more than one product a day. NEMs are more likely to be taken by women than men, and especially those over 35 years of higher education. Also, people with a healthier lifestyle and a balanced diet are more likely to use NEM. Although the manufacturers of such products often promise a health-promoting effect, but some means can even harm health. The BfR has now updated its maximum recommended levels for vitamins and minerals in nutritional supplements.

Up to 30 percent of German adults regularly take supplements. That can harm your health. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has now updated its maximum recommended levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements. (Image: pat_hastings / fotolia.com)

Health claims

In addition to vitamins and minerals, the products also partially contain other substances with physiological effects such as amino acids, fatty acids, plant extracts or microorganisms.

The advertising promises positive effects for health, well-being and improved performance. But in general, a balanced and varied diet provides the healthy body with all the vital nutrients.

In addition, if high-dose supplements are taken and possibly fortified foods consumed, the risk of adverse health effects by high nutrient inputs increases.

Risk of overdose

Those who take high-dose products sometimes run the risk of overdoses, even if they follow the manufacturer's recommended daily intake.

In addition, one study showed that some dietary supplements, even in conventional doses, pose health risks.

And some such remedies can even increase the cancer risk, Austrian scientists reported.

Maximum levels tested for vitamins and minerals

The BfR has now checked its maximum levels for vitamins and minerals proposed in 2004 and revised them on the basis of new scientific findings.

"The special feature of the risk assessment of vital nutrients such as vitamins and minerals is that both the risks of a shortage as well as an oversupply must be taken into account," said BfR President Professor Dr. med. Dr. Andreas Hensel.

"According to the current state of knowledge, products that comply with our recommendations and are taken according to the manufacturer's instructions pose no health risk for people aged 15 and over," emphasizes BfR President Andreas Hensel.

The findings have been published in the Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety.

There are currently no binding limits

In the past, BfR has already commented extensively on the health benefits and risks of dietary supplements (NEM) and informed consumers about problems that may be associated with the consumption of such products.

Binding levels of vitamins and minerals in NEM do not currently exist at either national or European level, although in recent years different models for maximum quantity derivation have been developed and discussed in Germany and other European countries.

The new maximum levels have been derived taking into account three main parameters: the Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL) derived from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the intake of vitamins and minerals by the usual diet and the respective intake reference levels Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).

The safe intake of dietary supplements (and fortified foods) was derived by the BfR by taking the difference from the UL and the nutrient intake from the usual diet.

Provide sufficient supplementation for people with low nutrient intake

In order to ensure that products containing nutrients in these quantities are not only for adults, but also present no risks to young people according to the current state of knowledge, the age group 15-17 was chosen as reference group for the maximum quantity derivation.

In addition, an uncertainty factor of 2 was used for almost every nutrient. This should take into account a possible multiple exposure by taking different supplements.

The maximum levels proposed by the BfR aim to provide adequate supplementation for people with low nutrient intake without significantly increasing the risk of UL exceedance if adequate nutrient intake is provided.

The maximum quantity recommendations initially only apply to dietary supplements and, unless otherwise stated, apply to adolescents aged 15 and over and adults. For some of the maximum quantities, BfR recommends additional mandatory information on the products.

Furthermore, the BfR points out that new scientific findings and future market developments may require adjustments to the maximum levels.

Nutritional supplements usually not necessary

In Germany, the conventional diet with few exceptions sufficient amounts of micronutrients are included. From a nutritional perspective, dietary supplements are therefore generally not necessary.

This is even more so as dietary supplements are used more by people with healthier lifestyles and balanced nutrition.

International scientific studies also show that no additional effects are to be expected from an additional consumption of micronutrients going beyond the requirements.

In view of this, the maximum quantities proposed by the BfR serve, above all, to protect the large part of the well-served population from excessive nutrient uptake.

The maximum quantity proposals of the BfR are the basis for the creation of legal regulations in Germany and thus a decision-making aid for risk management for risk-reducing measures. (Ad)