With all the talk and attention on staying healthy these days, you may be tempted to ingest whatever you think can boost your vitamin and nutrient intake to the max. After all, if a small amount of vitamin C or calcium is good for you, isn’t more better? And isn’t it easiest to just take some supplemental pills to get you up to the levels you think you need? If you’re contemplating a supplement or organizing your vitamins, nutrients, and other potions or pills each morning, you’re not alone. Public surveys show that the majority of adults over 60 (some 70% of us) reported taking a supplement in the last month and 30% of those surveyed took at least 4 different supplements. For a fascinating history of how supplements came to be so widespread and popular in this country, clear your medicine cabinet and click here. And for previous agebuzz posts on various considerations before taking supplements, read here.

But before you follow the hoards down the road of multiple supplements, it’s important to remember some basic facts about their quality, usage, and necessity. First, for a valuable review of the dietary guidelines and supplement recommendations for people over age 50, take a look at this description from the National Institute on Aging. Generally speaking, experts suggest you first and primarily look to food for all of your nutritional requirements. And if you do desire to start a supplement, you should first discuss your plans with a qualified nutritional or medical expert. What’s of particular concern is that some supplements may have side effects, or might negatively interact with important medications you are already taking. In fact, if you have heart disease, Harvard Health warns that there are several supplements that could further undermine your heart health. That being said, there are conditions and situations that arise, especially as you get older, that might benefit from some nutritional supplements to your daily diet (again with the advice and approval of your healthcare provider).

For example, in a recent guide to supplements for healthy aging, posted in Healthline, the expert author noted that as you age, your body’s ability to absorb nutrients decreases, you lose bone and muscle mass, and combined with a reduced appetite might mean that fewer nutrients get into your system than previously. Among the supplements they (along with AARP) suggest you discuss with your healthcare provider are calcium, vitamin D, B vitamins, and proteins. Healthline also suggests you consider the herbal supplement curcumin, which is found in Turmeric. A recent post in Consumer Reports discusses the pros and cons of including Turmeric in your diet as well. And if you are afflicted with such conditions as osteoarthritis, macular degeneration, or if you eat in a restricted way, such as Vegan, Medshadow recommends you speak with your provider about supplements.

One important update for those of you who take the brain health supplement Prevagen. In a previous post in agebuzz, we noted the insufficient evidence supporting brain health supplements such as Prevagen, despite the slick marketing the company employs. Now comes word in The Washington Post that litigation against the manufacturers of Prevagen is ramping up again, as the Federal Trade Commission and the New York Attorney General accuse the company of false claims and ask for refunds, among other remedies sought. The marketing for this supplement veers dangerously close to suggesting that Prevagen is medicine rather than a supplement, falling into the “pseudomedicine” category that is beyond the reach of FDA regulation. As the case proceeds, we’ll find out whether such supplements can withstand the scrutiny of the law and science. But in the meantime, this supplement stands as a good testament as to why you need to carefully read the labels on supplements and have a clear-eyed understanding of what the product says it does and what it promises to do. For more on how to read supplement labels, pull out your reading glasses and click here.