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The Food Standards Agency (FSA), has recently investigated the use of vitamin and mineral supplements and argued that they are not needed and the high levels of some nutrients in many health store products could actually be harmful. They also state that all the nutrients that humans require throughout the day can be adequately provided by dietary means, including the consumption of at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

 Although the consumption of more fresh fruit and vegetables is sound advice, research suggests that the nutritional quality of the foods available to us from supermarket shelves is poor. It appears that the mineral content of soil is gradually becoming worse. Therefore, if the levels of minerals in the soil are depleted, then the levels of minerals in the crops are depleted. For example, from 1978-1991, vegetables lost 72% of their copper and 59% of their zinc content along with 40% of their calcium, 33% of their magnesium and 6% of their iron. It is estimated that it would take ten tomatoes in 1991, to obtain the same amount of copper present in one single tomato in 1940.

 This depletion of nutrients is not only confined to fruits and vegetables. It has also been discovered that the mineral content of meat is not as high as it used to be, as calcium and iron content have fallen by 41% and 54% respectively since 1940.

 This places consumers in a difficult and confusing situation. Just what exactly can we do to ensure an adequate daily intake of nutrients, if fruit and vegetables do not contain enough vitamins and minerals. The answer lies with supplements. The FSA argue that we dont need to take them, but in light of the above findings it is apparent that we do!

Supplements should not replace foods, such as fruits and vegetables, as even though the nutrient content may be depleted, they are still an important source of dietary fibre and water and we all still need to include more of these foods in our diet. However, supplements should be used in accordance to their name, to supplement the diet and help safeguard against any dietary nutrient shortfalls.