Vitamin D, Iron, Omega 3: Dietary supplements are a rapidly growing market, which is highly promoted on social media. But there is rarely any regulation of these supplements – and the promises of health benefits are often false.
Around the world, more and more people are taking dietary supplements that promise better skin and hair, a stronger immune system or improved performance. Magnesium, vitamin C and others are part of a market worth billions of euros.
Angela Clausen of the Consumer Advice Center in North Rhine-Westphalia has been working on this topic for years.
“The problem is that many people view dietary supplements as a type of natural medicine, so they use them accordingly: for therapy, and for relief or treatment of diseases,” she says. “But dietary supplements are really just meant to supplement essential components we don’t get enough of from our diets.”
At best, when consumers purchase dietary supplements that provide no benefit to them, they are simply wasting their money. However, some substances, such as vitamin D, iodine, or selenium, can be harmful if consumed in excess.
Food supplements are also subject to far less regulation, precisely because they are not medicines. They may be marketed without testing for safety, quality or effectiveness. As a result, dietary supplements may not always contain the ingredients stated on the package, or in the amounts stated. Sometimes they also contain substances that are dangerous or banned.
Monitoring of these claims is becoming even less on social media. False promises about the health-promoting properties of dietary supplements are ubiquitous, as a random check of hundreds of posts and stories conducted in 2021 has shown.
DW Fact Check conducted its own research on claims about dietary supplements on social media, then took three examples and analyzed them.
Get Smarter with Ginkgo Biloba, Bacopa Monnieri, L-Theanine and Magnesium L-Threonate
Claim: In this video, which has been viewed nearly 1.7 million times, a TikTok user claims: “You’re not stupid, you don’t have enough circulation to your brain, which prevents you from concentrating, concentrating effectively.” Has been, and it’s really causing memory loss.” Their top four recommended supplements to help with this are Ginkgo Biloba, Bacopa Monnieri, L-Theanine, and Magnesium L-Threonate.
Fact Check: False
Better cognitive performance and concentration thanks to these dietary supplements – unfortunately, it’s too good to be true. Nutritionist Friedrich Schmidt of the University of Lübeck analyzed the video for DW.
“The TikToker talks about very specific metabolic mechanisms, and she initially appears competent,” says Schmidt. However, she points out that, with respect to many aspects of the preparations mentioned by the woman, “we don’t really know what they do and whether they help at all.”
For example, one of the claims made in the video is that the plant extract Bacopa monnieri increases levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain, thereby improving memory.
“That’s pretty far-fetched,” says Schmidt. “So far, there hasn’t been a single methodologically sound study, let alone several studies, in which people were given an extract of this plant, they had more acetylcholine in their brains, and then they were able to remember things better. Were capable.”
Angela Clawson of the Consumer Advice Center is well aware that citing studies that have little or no relevance or significance is a common tactic when advertising dietary supplements. “As far as the actual product is concerned, the studies presented are generally disastrous,” she says.
Overall, TikToker’s claims are not scientifically sound at all. There is no evidence that their “top four supplement recommendations” improve cognitive performance as they describe.
Turmeric: A Miracle Cure?
Claim: According to this Spanish-language video, which has been viewed more than 1.5 million times, turmeric powder dissolved in water may help against eczema. It is also said to detoxify the body, prevent arthritis and reduce the risk of cancer. Similar claims can be found here and here, as well as elsewhere.
Fact Check: False
Turmeric, used as a spice, has long been known to be good for digestion. However, according to Clawson, “All of these claims are unacceptable; there are no existing studies to support them.” Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has actually been researched – but there are no “gold standard studies” involving precisely defined extracts used in products. This would mean studies conducted in humans, in which neither the researchers nor the subjects knew who received placebo and who received the active ingredient, and which ideally would be confirmed by at least one other study conducted by a different working group. Has been done.
Studies have only shown that a specific turmeric extract, at a specific dose, has anti-inflammatory effects in vitro in laboratory tests. But these effects can only be attributed to this extract, this exact dosage, and not to turmeric alone. Its effects in humans may be completely different from those in test tubes.
“We are very far from being able to say that turmeric definitely helps,” says Friederike Schmidt. Nutritionists point out that a particular problem with curcumin is that it is very reactive, meaning that in the laboratory it interacts with many other substances – which is probably why it has been shown to be effective against so many different diseases and problems. Is considered effective. But that doesn’t mean it will be effective on people.
Better skin, hair, nails and joints with collagen?
Claim: Posts on social media also attribute many positive properties to collagen. This viral video claims it’ll give you firmer skin, stronger nails, and shinier, stronger hair, while this TikTok clip claims it’ll also support your joints.
Fact Check: False
Collagen is a protein naturally produced by the body. It is important for bones, joints, muscles and tendons. Therefore dietary supplements containing collagen are derived from animals, usually from slaughterhouse waste.
It is unclear how well the body is able to process collagen obtained externally. According to a meta-study conducted in 2023, even collagen’s most famous purported effect – a rejuvenating effect on the skin – still needs further research.
“None of these advertising promises have been approved for use in the EU, certainly not regarding joint health,” says consumer adviser Clausen. There is no conclusive evidence that it has this effect, she says. The Consumer Advice Center also successfully sued the manufacturer of Glo25 collagen powder in 2022 for using the slogan “Healthy Bones and Joints”. Furthermore, suppliers admitted that their promises regarding its effects on skin, hair and nails were unacceptable. Nonetheless, many posts online still make these claims.
Conclusion: Consumers are being misled
With dietary supplements, it is not easy to separate truth from hype. In general, claims made on social media are often exaggerated, unscientific, or even banned.
“In many cases, we see that people are just spending money on things they don’t need,” says Schmidt. She describes it as “a very attractive idea: that you can do something for your health with a few capsules or powders”.
