Researchers employed by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in Berlin, Germany, assessed the use of DS, motivations, information behavior, perceptions, and intentions of continued use in 1,071 participants.
The use of DS was high, with 76.9% of participants reporting usage, with motivations for use extremely varied.
As well as the high percentage of use among participants, results indicated minerals were the most commonly used supplements, followed by vitamins. Magnesium was the top individual DS, used by over half of participants, while vitamins D, B12, and C, along with minerals like zinc, calcium, and iron, were also common.
“These results also provide starting points for communicators with the aim of better understanding the perceptions and behavior of DS users for tailored information services,” the researchers noted.
Global supplement use driven by health values
DS use is globally widespread; previous research showed that 57% of adults in Germany used DS, compared with 34–49% in the USA, 71%in Denmark, 53% in the Netherlands, 41% in France, 39% in Japan, and 54% in China.
A previous study identified four key factors linked to DS use: sociodemographic and health backgrounds, motivations like health management, information sources, e.g., doctors or social media influencers, and personal attitudes toward supplements.
While intentions to use DS in the future were under studied, early evidence showed they were shaped by health values and knowledge levels.
Health-conscious young women lead the supplement trend
The researchers conducted an online survey in September 2024. They classified participants as DS users if they had taken at least one of 61 listed substances (vitamins, minerals, botanicals, or other supplements) in the past 12 months.
Use was assessed across four main categories: vitamins, minerals, botanicals, and other bioactive substances.
Vitamins included vitamin A, the B-complex group (B1, B2, B6, B12, folic acid, biotin, niacin, pantothenic acid), vitamin C, D, E, K, and beta-carotene.
The 17 minerals assessed included calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, selenium, iodine, fluoride, and others.
Botanicals in the questionnaire included bitter orange, aloe, curcumin, maca, valerian, hawthorn, spirulina, ashwagandha, ginseng, milk thistle, ginkgo, and pumpkin seed.
They also assessed the use of 18 other bioactive substances, such as omega fatty acids, amino acids, proteins, probiotics, prebiotics, collagen, creatine, coenzymes, melatonin, choline, CBD, and spermidine.
Compared to non-users, DS users were often female and younger. Education level showed no significant difference. Users were more health-conscious, more likely to seek health information, and better able to evaluate health information than non-users.
Among DS users, the most important motivations included illness prevention, nutrient provision, and maintaining or improving health. Motivations based on social trends or influencer recommendations were much weaker.
In fact, most participants were likely to receive DS recommendations from friends, relatives, and physicians, while pharmacists, sports professionals, and sales staff were less common sources. Younger participants reported being more likely to try a new DS for the purpose of preventive health.
The researchers noted that health communicators should tailor messages to specific user segments and motivations. They explained that preventive users may respond to balanced risk-benefit information, whereas socially motivated users may need support in evaluating external advice.
Source: Frontiers in Nutrition doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1663562; “Exploring motivations, information behavior, perceptions, and intentions among dietary supplement users: a cross-sectional survey study in Germany”Authors: Janzik, R. et al
