Vitamin D and other supplements are among the most widely used vitamins in Australia, but experts caution that “natural” doesn’t always mean safe.
Evangeline Mantzioris, program director of nutrition and food sciences at the University of South Australia, often challenges pharmacy students on their supplement recommendations. She recalls asking what they might suggest if someone came in feeling tired.
“They said, ‘We’d suggest iron,’” Mantzioris says. “I asked, ‘If someone has a headache, would you give them antihypertensives?’ They said, ‘No, we’d refer them to a doctor.’ I said, ‘Well, what’s the difference?’”
Accredited practising dietitian Danielle Shine explains that vitamins and supplements are less regulated than medicines, which can create a false sense of security. “People assume they are safe because they are ‘natural,’ but that’s not always true,” she warns.
Dr Joanna Harnett, associate professor at the University of Sydney’s School of Pharmacy, adds that nutrient absorption depends on factors like age, genetics, medications, and lifestyle. “A balanced diet should be your main source of nutrients, but supplements may be necessary for deficiencies or increased needs,” she says.
Up to 70 per cent of Australians, particularly women, regularly take vitamins and supplements. Among these, Vitamin D is often highlighted for its key role in bone health and immunity, making it one of the most recommended by health professionals.
Here’s a quick guide to the top five supplements commonly used in Australia—and what experts say about them.
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