According to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 56% of Dutch people use dietary supplements (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 2021). Women use supplements more often than men. Additionally, it appears that most supplements are used in winter. The top 5 supplements most frequently used are:

1. Vitamin D
2. Multivitamin/minerals
3. Vitamin C
4. Magnesium
5. Fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids

Are these also the vitamins and minerals that Dutch people are most deficient in? The most common deficiencies in the Netherlands are vitamin D and B12 deficiencies. How do we develop a vitamin deficiency?

One of the main reasons for the development of a vitamin deficiency is a one-sided dietary pattern (Zhu, 2020). Scientific research has demonstrated the direct relationship between a healthy and varied diet and the likelihood of developing a vitamin deficiency. This means that if you follow a specific diet, you are more likely to develop a vitamin deficiency. This applies to people following diets for weight loss as well as those who eat vegetarian or vegan. If you eat too little and specifically too few vegetables, a vitamin deficiency is imminent.

Furthermore, people with digestive problems, such as stomach and intestinal complaints, are more likely to have vitamin deficiencies (Vernia, 2022). This is because the absorption of nutrients is often reduced. In that case, it is important to address both the digestive problems and to supplement the nutrient deficiencies. 

Moreover, athletes often consume more vitamins and minerals, increasing their chances of developing a vitamin deficiency (McClung, 2014). Physical stress leads to a higher consumption of nutrients. If this is not replenished, there is a higher chance of deficiencies.

Lastly, the soil on which our food is grown contains fewer nutrients than 20 years ago (Smit, 2018). This is also a reason why vitamin and mineral deficiencies occur more frequently than before, and why we may need supplements sooner.

Supplements can never replace a healthy and varied diet. However, they can be beneficial next to a healthy and varied diet.

Sources:

1. Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu. (2021). Supplementen. Wat Eet Nederland.
2. Zhu, Y., Minovic, I., Dekker, L.H., et al. (2020). Vitamin Status and Diet in Elderly with Low and High Socioeconomic Status: The Lifelines-MINUTHE Study. Nutrients.
3. Vernia, F., Valvano, M., Longo, S., et al. (2022). Vitamin D in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Implications. Nutrients.
4. McClung, J.P., Gaffney-Stomberg, E., Lee, J.J. (2014). Female athletes: a population at risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies affecting health and performance. J Trace Elem Med Biol.
5. Smit, M. (2018). De duurzaamheid van de Nederlandse landbouw. Wageningen University & Research.