{"id":2217,"date":"2019-03-11T11:00:15","date_gmt":"2019-03-11T11:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/121dietitian.co.uk\/?p=2217"},"modified":"2023-04-04T21:43:44","modified_gmt":"2023-04-04T20:43:44","slug":"nutritional-supplements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/121dietitian.com\/?p=2217","title":{"rendered":"The truth about nutritional supplements revealed by a UK leading Dietitian"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most commonly asked questions we hear at 121 Dietitian is “What supplements should I be taking?” With this in mind, Director and Principal Dietitian Gillian Killiner discusses the topic of supplements and who should be taking what.<\/h2>\n

It might surprise you to learn that the term ‘dietary supplements’ actually applies to a wide group, including; vitamins, herbs, enzymes, amino acids, minerals, protein drinks, sport aids, weight loss pills, anti aging tonics etc.<\/p>\n

According to a report in Optimum Nutrition Magazine, the nutritional supplement market in the UK in 2016 was valued at\u00a0\u00a3431 million and this is expected to double in the next 5 years.<\/p>\n

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People in the U.K. take dietary supplements for a variety of different reasons. Athletes and bodybuilders may take supplements to gain performance improvements and to bulk up. Others take supplements to get protein and vitamins into their diets as part of an overall focus on a healthier lifestyle.<\/p>\n

Pregnant and lactating women may take dietary supplements to provide enough nutrients to support their growing babies. Children from ages six months to five years may be given supplements to make certain that they are getting enough vitamins while they are growing. The government recommends that children in this age group are given supplements of vitamins A, C and D.<\/p>\n

People also take dietary supplements to help lose weight, while older adults take supplements to help to maintain their health as they age.<\/p>\n

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This sounds and is, for the main part, acceptable. When supplements are advised and taken correctly, they can enhance an individual\u2019s health and thus improve life outcomes and I am all for this when following an expert’s advice. However, this needs to be after a full health assessment.<\/p>\n

What is most worrying is that I find frequently in my clinical practice individuals taking supplements for several years or maybe longer and they really have no idea the quality of the supplement they are taking (often cheap shop brand) the quantity of the ingredient dose they are taking and the risks associated with this or on the reverse that they might not be absorbing the ingredients at all.<\/p>\n

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Sadly, I have had several patients who have significant liver damage as a direct result of high dose supplementation taken for an extended period of time.<\/p>\n

Truth be told, I am a supplement nerd and I am meticulous in sourcing the correct therapeutic supplements for each individual based on their; health, lifestyle, age, sex, metabolic status and most importantly, blood test results.<\/p>\n

\"supplements\"<\/p>\n

The supplements that I select are chosen because they have:<\/h3>\n