Do I need to take vitamin supplements every day to stay healthy?

Some messages recommend taking vitamin supplements every day. Is that really useful?

It is claimed that our current diet does not contain enough vitamins and minerals and that it is therefore necessary to take daily vitamin and mineral supplements.

However, this is not necessary with a normal diet. Most vitamins that we take in the form of supplements are simply excreted because we already have enough of them. With fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E and K, we do not urinate the surpluses and these vitamins can accumulate and cause intoxication.

In conclusion: buy your vitamins at the greengrocer. Fresh vegetables and fruit contain sufficient vitamins so that supplements are completely unnecessary.

It can be useful for people with osteoporosis to take vitamin D. For people who have undergone intestinal surgery, vitamin and mineral supplements may also be necessary.

Source: https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/vitamins/

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2023-12-11 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2026