Dietary supplements are widely used in Denmark, with multivitamin and mineral supplements being the most commonly used type, followed by fish oil/cod liver oil, vitamin D and calcium supplements. This is shown in a new study on dietary supplement use by the DTU National Food Institute.
67 per cent of all participants in the study, which covers the 4–80 age group, had used one or more dietary supplements in the past year, which is an increase from 61 per cent in a similar study conducted approximately 10 years ago.
“Our figures show that when intake from dietary supplements is taken into account, there is a drop in the proportion of people who consume less than the average requirement of, for instance, vitamins D and E, several B vitamins and selenium. At the same time, the use of dietary supplements means that some people have a total intake exceeding the upper limits, for instance for, retinol and zinc – this applies particularly to children,” says researcher Camilla Christensen from the DTU National Food Institute.
She emphasises that dietary supplements cannot replace a healthy and varied diet.
“Dietary supplements can provide certain vitamins and minerals, but they cannot replace the wide range of nutrients, dietary fibre and other substances found in food. Therefore, as a rule, people should eat in accordance with the Danish Official Dietary Guidelines and follow the authorities’ recommendations on dietary supplements – including the recommendation regarding vitamin D during the winter months,” says Camilla Christensen.
Regarding vitamin D, the study shows that around half the population follows the authorities’ recommendation to take supplements during the winter months.
The study is based on data from the Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity, DANSDA 2021–2024. It draws on interview data regarding participants’ use of dietary supplements over the past year, as well as seven-day dietary records in which both diet and dietary supplements were recorded.
Many children take multivitamin and mineral supplements
Among 4–10-year-olds, 70 per cent had taken a dietary supplement in the past year, and multivitamin and mineral supplements were the most used type.
Healthy children who eat a healthy and varied diet generally do not need multivitamin and mineral supplements. However, they should follow the authorities’ general and target-group-specific recommendations regarding, for example, vitamin D and the specific recommendations for vegetarian or vegan diets.
The study shows that children are at risk of consuming too much retinol – the form of vitamin A found in foods such as animal-based foods and dietary supplements (see also the box below). Some children already consume quite a lot of retinol through their diet, and dietary supplements can add a significant amount on top of that.
“In recent years, many manufacturers of multivitamin and mineral tablets have reduced or completely removed the content of retinol and certain minerals. This is a positive development. However, the results show that there is still a need to look critically at the contents of children’s dietary supplements as some children get more than enough from their diet,” says Camilla Christensen.
Dietary supplements are usually labelled as a percentage of a set reference intake for adults, which can make it difficult to assess from the label whether the content is suitable for a child.
The Danish Veterinary and Food Authority has set guideline values for the maximum amounts that children’s dietary supplements should contain, for safety reasons. It is the responsibility of companies to ensure that their products are not harmful to health.
Calcium is an area of concern amongst children and young people
The study shows that calcium should be a particular area of concern.
“With regard to calcium, we see that a significant proportion of children and young people have an intake below the average requirement, even when dietary supplements are taken into account. This does not in itself indicate a calcium deficiency in the individual child, but it underlines the importance of calcium-rich foods, and that children and young people follow the Danish Official Dietary Guidelines and obtain calcium through, for example, the recommended amounts of dark green vegetables, wholegrain products, milk and dairy products, or calcium-fortified plant-based alternatives,” says Camilla Christensen.
