Archive · 2 Jan 2026
Vitamin supplements: benefits and risks
Vitamin and mineral supplements are popular, with UK sales expected to reach £559 million by 2025.
These supplements are designed to provide essential nutrients that our bodies can't produce on their own, especially for those who don't eat enough fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-rich foods.
While most people can get the nutrients they need from a healthy diet, certain groups like children, pregnant women, vegans, and older adults may benefit from taking specific supplements.
However, taking too much of certain vitamins can be harmful, causing issues like seizures, headaches, and kidney stones.
Big-brand multivitamins are generally safe and can act as a form of insurance for those worried about their diet.
UK sales of vitamin or mineral supplements forecast to reach £559 million by 2025.
Fewer than 17% of UK adults meet the recommended daily intake of five fruit or vegetable portions.
Multivitamins combine various vitamins and minerals, but benefits depend on individual needs and specific nutrients.
Certain groups, such as children, pregnant women, vegans, and older adults, may benefit from specific supplements.
Mega-dosing on vitamins can be harmful, with risks including seizures, headaches, and kidney stones.
- Who
- General public, especially those with potential nutrient deficiencies
- What
- Vitamin and mineral supplements
- When
- Ongoing, with specific recommendations for certain groups
- Where
- UK and other regions with similar dietary habits
- Why
- To fill nutrient gaps in diet, but benefits and risks vary
- UK sales forecast
- £559 million by 2025
- Recommended daily intake
- 5 portions of fruit or vegetables
- UK adults meeting intake
- Fewer than 17%
- Vitamins in multivitamins
- A, B, C, D, E, K
- Minerals in multivitamins
- Calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, iodine, copper, selenium, manganese, potassium, chromium
- Recommended for children
- Vitamins A, C, D (6 months to 5 years)
- Recommended for pregnant women
- Vitamin B12 (folic acid) for first 12 weeks, vitamin D daily
- Recommended for vegans/vegetarians
- Vitamin B12
- Recommended for over 65s
- Vitamins D and B12
- Risks of mega-dosing
- Seizures, coma, death (vitamin D); severe headaches, blurred vision (vitamin A); stomach upset, diarrhoea, kidney stones (vitamin C)