Supplements for Life

Science Backed Rx

Nutritional Supplements: Do we need it?

Summary

Why Do We Even Need Supplements?

The human body is like a machine that has a trillion moving parts. A dysfunction of one part will not break the machine, but will affect the functioning of surrounding parts. Eventually too many faulty parts will result in dysfunction of the machine that will need to be addressed. Think of nutritional supplements like the lubricant that allows the machine parts to perform smoothly. Thus maintaining the machine longer.

The need for nutritional supplements varies widely. Genetics, metabolism, stress, age, and lifestyle all affect how efficiently we absorb and utilize nutrients from food. That’s why one person may thrive on diet alone, while another develops deficiencies even with a seemingly balanced eating plan. Furthermore, as we age, our epigenetics changes which impacts our metabolism. One great example is how some of our body’s begin to be lactose-intolerant.

The Science Behind Supplementation

Modern science has revealed that nutritional needs differ dramatically between individuals. Factors like soil quality, medication use, gut microbiome health, and even pollution can reduce nutrient availability or absorption.

  • Soil depletion: Modern farming practices have significantly lowered the vitamin and mineral content of fruits and vegetables.
  • Poor dietary habits: Processed and fast-food diets often lack essential micronutrients.
  • Age and digestion: Absorption efficiency declines with age and certain medical conditions.

As Nobel laureate Linus Pauling famously said, “You can trace every sickness, every disease, and every ailment to a mineral deficiency”. While some scientists argue this statement is overly broad, it reflects the growing awareness that nutrient balance is crucial not just for for cellular health but for physiological health.

Everyone’s Metabolism Is Different

Genetics play a powerful role in nutrient metabolism. Small genetic differences known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) influence how effectively we process certain vitamins and minerals.

Biochemist Dr. Roger Williams, who introduced the concept of biochemical individuality, explained it best: “Each person’s nutritional needs are as unique as their fingerprints”. This concept underscores why personalized supplementation is becoming the future of nutrition.

For example:

  • Some individuals cannot efficiently convert plant-based beta-carotene into vitamin A.
  • Others have reduced enzyme activity for absorbing vitamin D or B12.
  • Gut diversity affects how we metabolize nutrients like magnesium and iron.

These variations show why science-backed supplements can play an essential role in optimizing health on an individual level.

The Benefits of Nutritional Supplements

When used correctly, supplements can support energy production, immune function, brain health, and overall vitality. Commonly studied and beneficial supplements include:

  • Vitamin D: Crucial for bone health and immune function; deficiencies are widespread, especially in low-sunlight regions.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids: Support heart health and brain function.
  • Magnesium: Essential for over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body but often under-consumed.
  • Probiotics: Help balance gut bacteria, which aids nutrient absorption and immunity.

(P.S: We will dive more on this about their mechanism of action, PK/PD properties, best age to consider taking them, and a whole lot more about them)

Final Thoughts: The Science-Backed Perspective

The truth is simple but powerful: Most people can benefit from supplements because no two bodies metabolize nutrients the same way.

As Nobel-winning biochemist Albert Szent-Györgyi, discoverer of vitamin C, once said, “Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.”

Applying that idea to health, supplements represent a way to think differently about nutrition i.e., filling gaps where lifestyle, genetics, or the modern environment create deficiencies.