Over the timeframe analyzed, the overall use of any dietary supplement increased from 51.8% in 2011-2012 to 61.4% in 2021-2023. In addition, 16.2% of respondents were taking four or more supplement products concurrently, compared to 10% in 2011-2012.
Further analysis showed that multivitamin or multimineral (MVMM) use stayed consistent across the study periods, remaining just above the 30% figure, whereas any vitamin use or any mineral both increased substantially, by 7.6% and 9.7%, respectively.
The most popular vitamins and minerals, including through the use of MVMM, were vitamin D (48.2%), calcium (44.3%) and vitamin C (41.2%).
When MVMM use was taken out of the equation, the biggest increase in use of specific supplements were vitamin D (10.9%), zinc (8.4%) and vitamin C (5.1%). The authors also noted that biotin (3.4%), probiotics (3.1%) and fiber (2.9%) were among the products that also showed growth during the time period.
The research used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2023 to understand how supplement use had changed over the last decade.
“Our study indicated the prevalence of any supplement use was increasing during the last decade,” the researchers wrote in the European Journal of Nutrition. “In the 2021–2023 cycle after the pandemic, the prevalence of dietary supplement use is significantly increased with 61.4% of U.S. adults reporting use of any supplements.”
Supplement use climbs across all demographics
The research found that the trend towards increasing use of supplements was consistent across different groups of age, sex, race and ethnicity, education, body mass index and self-reported health status.
When examining use by particular groups, it was found that older adults, women, non-Hispanic Whites, those with greater levels of education and better self-reported health showed higher prevalence, with this being consistent across the timeframe.
Another factor that seemed to influence supplement use was weight, with those at normal weight or overweight found to have higher use. This was also found to be true for those who reported good or excellent health status.
The report also specifically noted that the data covering the period around the pandemic allowed researchers to identify a significant increase in supplement use in the post-pandemic environment.
Growth from all angles
The research finding that a greater majority of individuals in the United States are taking supplements corroborates industry findings. A consumer survey conducted by Ipsos and sponsored by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) also noted broad use but at higher levels than the NHANES data.
CRN research showed that 75% of individuals report use of supplements and, similar to the NHANES data, the survey found high levels of vitamin D use and a growing interest in probiotic products.
Jeff Ventura, senior vice president of communications at CRN, also confirmed the findings from the NHANES data in relation to education.
“CRN’s survey does look at education level and finds that among regular [supplement] users 77% have college degrees versus 71% with no college degrees,” he said.
Unlike the NHANES study, the CRN survey looked into why people use supplements. Ventura confirmed that overall health and wellness is the main influencing factor (42%), closely followed by immune support (30%) and increased energy (27%).
Source: European Journal of Nutrition, 2025, 64, 304. doi: 10.1007/s00394-025-03825-4. “Trends in dietary supplement use among U.S. adults between 2011 and 2023”. Authors: L. Zhao, et al.
