A large number of apparently healthy people believe that they need vitamin and mineral supplements every day to stay healthy. About one-half of adult Americans regularly use a vitamin supplement which frequently contains iron or other minerals. Pregnant women, small children and the elderly are frequent consumers of vitamin or mineral supplements. Some people believe they need additional vitamins for extra energy. Some believe that cancer, heart disease, the common cold, arthritis and other disease are caused by mineral and vitamin deficiencies.
Many people believe that a faulty diet is a major cause of their health problems.
Consumers often claim that they need dietary supplements because depleted soils and the heavy refining of foods have produced food that is deficient in nutrients. Enthusiasts would have you believe that vitamin and mineral pills can delay old age, offset the ill effects of stress, cure aches and pains and give you a better memory. Despite a lack of evidence that vitamin and mineral supplements can cure or treat anything but rare deficiencies and absorption disorders, their benefits are widely extolled. The promotion of vitamin and mineral supplements has been referred to as the most widespread form of quackery in America today. There are certain groups of people who may have a greater risk than others of developing a nutrient deficiency.