Supplements can fill real gaps — but a balanced plate covers most people most of the time. Here's how to spend wisely.
Who genuinely benefits
- Pregnant women — folic acid before and during early pregnancy is one of the best-proven supplements there is; iron is commonly needed too.
- Older adults — vitamin D and B12 absorption declines with age.
- People on restricted diets — vegans need B12; anyone avoiding dairy should watch calcium.
- Diagnosed deficiency — iron, vitamin D or B12 confirmed by a blood test should be treated, at the dose your clinician recommends.
Where evidence is thin
Mega-dose vitamin C for colds, "detox" blends and most "immune booster" mixes have weak evidence behind them. If a label promises to cure many unrelated things at once, be skeptical.
Three practical rules
- Food first — supplements top up a diet, they don't replace one.
- More is not better — fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) accumulate and can reach harmful levels.
- Tell your pharmacist what else you take — supplements can interact with prescription medicines (St John's Wort and warfarin is a classic example).
Unsure what you need? Bring your questions — or your blood-test results — to any Medicrest Plus pharmacist. It's free.
