Dietary supplements are a booming business. More than half of U.S. adults take at least one, and the supplement industry is worth billions of dollars.
But many experts say people are better off saving their money. Regulations on the industry are so lax that supplement makers do not have to prove their products are safe and effective before they hit store shelves—which studies suggest many would have a hard time doing. Plenty of research finds that supplements aren’t all that beneficial for the average person, and may in some cases even be harmful or expose users to dangerous substances.
The vitamins and minerals in supplements are no match for those found in real food, studies show. “Food contains innumerable other components that are also, ultimately, beneficial for you,” says Dr. Joel Mason, a professor of medicine and nutrition at Tufts University. “It’s better for us, in the long run, to be sustaining our health through a mindfully healthy diet, …