The sense and nonsense of food supplements Special issue of the Federal Health Gazette focuses on the benefits, risks and perception of vitamins, minerals and other substances
What it's about:
Doctor’s offices, friends or social media – does it make a difference where consumers obtain information about food supplements? According to a recent survey by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment), people who obtain information via social media take a greater number of different supplements and rate them more positively overall than people who obtain information from other sources. The study on External Link:the use and perception of food supplements in the context of social media is one of numerous articles published as part of the main topic “Micronutrients” in the current issue of the Federal Health Gazette (Bundesgesundheitsblatt). The magazine provides science-based insights into food supplements, among other things, and explains the complex relationships between their benefits and possible risks in an understandable way. “Social media also plays an important role in health communication nowadays, but the information found there is not always technically accurate,” says BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment President Professor Andreas Hensel. “For example, the majority of respondents mistakenly assume that food supplements are over-the-counter medicines, and almost half believe that they are tested for safety before they go on sale.” The special issue summarises the current state of scientific knowledge and provides important guidance in this complex subject area.
In the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment survey, more than three-quarters of respondents said they had taken food supplements in the past 12 months. While these may contain micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals, they may also contain other substances with nutritional or physiological effects. The latter are also referred to as “other substances”. These include, for example, fatty acids and amino acids, but also “botanicals”, i.e. plant substances or extracts.
As popular as food supplements are, they are unnecessary for most consumers: according to another External Link:article in the Federal Health Gazette in which scientists from the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment were also involved, consumption data shows that, with a few exceptions, the population in Germany consumes sufficient amounts of micronutrients as part of their normal diet. The article also states that there is no evidence of any benefit in taking food supplements if a good supply of micronutrients is already available. However, regular intake of high-dose supplements does increase the risk of adverse health effects, especially if they contain “other substances” that are currently insufficiently regulated in the EU. The authors explain that food supplements are legally classified as food and that the manufacturer or distributor is responsible for ensuring it is safe for consumption. There is no official testing or approval process. Food safety authorities carry out random checks to ensure compliance with legal requirements for products on the market. This poses a major challenge for consumer protection, not least because food supplements are increasingly being sold online and online shops that are not based in Germany, for example, cannot be monitored by the food monitoring authorities of the German federal states.
Another problem with food supplements is that it is not always easy to distinguish them from medicinal products, as further articles in this special issue illustrate. Many consumers, partly due to the similar dosage form, e.g. tablets, mistakenly assume that food supplements have demonstrable effects akin to medicines. However, such supplements are explicitly not intended to prevent or cure diseases or alleviate symptoms.
Finally, the special issue also addresses the benefits of food supplements, for example in situations where nutrient intake is insufficient. This can be the case with certain diets, such as vitamin B12 for vegans, or in certain circumstances, such as during pregnancy and breastfeeding, when iodine requirements are increased. As the articles clarify, whether supplementation with certain micronutrients is advisable depends on life circumstances and individual health status. This decision should be made in consultation with a medical practitioner and not independently.
References:
Federal Health Gazette/Bundesgesundheitsblatt – Mikronährstoffe zwischen Nutzen und Risiko, External Link:Volume 68, Issue 11, 2025
Obstfeld, H, Lohmann M: Food supplement in the context of social media: results of a survey on use and perception in Germany. Federal Health Gazette (2025). External Link:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-025-04133-2
Bendadani C, Bakhiya N, Breitweg-Lehmann E, Ehlers A, Hirsch-Ernst KI, Liebscher B, Weißenborn A: Food supplements and enriched food: benefits, risks and measures for consumer protection. Federal Health Gazette (2025). External Link:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-025-04134-1
Further information on food supplements
Information page on micronutrients and related topics Frequently Asked Questions on food supplements Food supplements for children – (not) a good idea?! |
About the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) is a scientifically independent public health institution within the portfolio of the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH). The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment advises the Federal Government and the States (‘Laender’) on questions of food, feed, chemical and product safety. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment conducts independent research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.
About mikroco.info
The internet portal www.mikroco.info provides information on vitamins, minerals and numerous other substances that we ingest with food or that are offered as food supplements. In addition, the individual pages contain the maximum levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements and in fortified foods as recommended by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment).