Advantages and Disadvantages of Micronutrient Supplements

Question 1

Micronutrient supplements

Answer 1

One way of supporting our health and wellbeing is through the consumption of micro nurtient supplements.
While there are advantages of taking micronutrient supplements, its also important to be aware of the potential disadvantages

Question 2

Advantages

Answer 2

• They help ensure that individuals who may have difficulty meeting their nutritional needs through diet alone are still able to get the essentials vitamins and minerals
  Coeliac disease
• They help to address deficiencies in specific vitamins or minerals
  Individuals who have been diagnosed with a deficiency
• They can help individuals who live in remote locations or cannot access a wide variety of nutritious food.
  The indigenous population
• They can help people who have a bad socioeconomic status.
  A student living off of 2 minute noodles
• They can allow certain demographic groups to get adequate intakes of specific nutrients.
  Breastfeeding and pregnant women
  Need folic acid to prevent neural tube defects
  The elderly
  Needs calcium for stronger bones with osteoporosis
  Teenage women
  Needs iron for anaemia

Question 3

Disadvantages

Answer 3

• Possible overconsumption
  Taking high doses of fat soluble vitamins may lead to undesirable effects
  Too much preformed vitamin A can cause severe headaches, dizziness, nausea and blurred vision
• Expense
  Supplements can be costly, especially if they’re taken regularly over a long period of time
  It may be cheaper to eat a wide variety of nutritious foods instead of excreting them vitamins.
• Risk of interactions
  Some supplements can interact with medications or other supplements
  Blood pressure medications and potassium supplements
• Phytochemicals
  Supplements can’t provide the benefits of phytochemical available in foods
  Polyphenols in berries are not found in supplements

Question 4

When would supplements be used

Answer 4

• Iron
  Anaemia
• Folic acid
  Pregnancy
• Calcium
  Osteoporosis
• Vitamin D
  Osteoporosis
• B vitamins
  Vegans
• Multi-vitamin supplement
  Metabolic disorders like coeliac