Dietary Supplements

Currently, in developed countries, approximately one-third of adults use dietary supplements. The tremendous interest in this category of products began in the 1990s, and the number of consumers is continually increasing. The fact is that dietary supplements are nothing new – vitamins in tablet form have been known for over 90 years, and the number of different types of substances contained in supplements is continuously growing.

The need for intake of biologically active substances varies for each individual. However, it is generally true that a large portion of the population unfortunately lacks sufficient quantities of nutritionally significant substances.

The causes of the deficiency of nutritionally significant substances are many, with the most commonly cited being:

• inappropriate eating habits due to various circumstances,

• a sedentary lifestyle and diet adapted to it,

• poor-quality source of food,

• frequent reduction diets,

• stress,

• smoking,

• polluted environment,

• consumption of alcohol,

• regular use of medications. 

For these reasons, as well as others, it is risky to claim that under these conditions, we are capable of consuming enough biologically active substances with a diverse diet. The fact is that legislation in the western part of civilization asserts the exact opposite and tries to convince us that a varied and diverse diet is a source of all nutrients necessary for the optimal functioning of the organism, even for top athletes. However, in recent years, exceptions have appeared in the form of so-called health claims, which precisely define the context in which we can talk about food in relation to their impact on human health.

Because dietary supplements are a source of a concentrated amount of various nutrients, it is appropriate to consider not only their existence but also the properties they present.

Dietary supplements are products that contain various biologically active substances (so-called nutritional supplements). They are designed to cover the average need for these substances in the average individual. They are made in such a way that the substances contained are maximally utilizable (e.g., some nutrients contained in unprocessed food are hard for our body to access).

Regular use of dietary supplements allows the creation of a short-term store of active substances in the body, thereby increasing our organism's resilience against some adverse situations (stress, poor environment, various diseases, etc.).

There are many different forms of dietary supplements available for purchase and consumption – the most commonly used are tablets, capsules, and gelcaps. This is because they are very easy to consume, store, and they also have a longer shelf life (expiration), than other forms. In addition to containing active nutrients, they also contain other substances (additives) – these serve various functions, most commonly supplementing the volume of tablets and capsules, prolonging their durability, preventing their oxidation, and sometimes assisting in their breakdown in the stomach (disintegration).

The form known as softgel is frequently used. These are typically gelatin capsules filled with some type of oil containing fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, beta-carotene), lecithin, or essential amino acids. These capsules contain fewer additional substances than tablets and dissolve more quickly in the digestive tract. However, it is not true that the substances contained in capsules are better utilized by the body.

People who, for various reasons, do not like swallowing tablets and capsules can obtain supplements in the form of a powder that they simply dissolve in water or mix into food. A well-accessible category is supplements in liquid form – they are easy to swallow and can be flavored, which is especially beneficial for small children. Their major drawback is a short shelf life, or the need to add preservatives to extend shelf life. A specific group of liquid preparations is tinctures, which are concentrated solutions made by steeping plants in water, glycerin, or alcohol.

A very modern and widely promoted group of products involves preparations that gradually release individual substances in our digestive tract. These are composed of very small capsules contained within a normal capsule. These microcapsules gradually degrade and release the respective substance (usually a vitamin) into the bloodstream over several hours.

It is now rare to encounter supplements taken sublingually. Typically, this involves a liquid containing active substances, which is placed under the tongue, thereby accelerating the overall absorption of all nutrients.