The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) issued a statement in response to an article published on Feb. 9 in The New York Times titled “Do You Need These Popular Supplements?”
The association said the article presents a “grossly inaccurate narrative” that most dietary supplements are unnecessary for the general population and that consumers would be better served by relying almost exclusively on whole foods.
The article appropriately acknowledges that supplements can be useful in certain circumstances such as pregnancy or diagnosed nutrient deficiencies, but the overall framing understates both the scale of nutrient inadequacies in the United States and the evidence-based role of supplements for overall health, CRN said.
“CRN agrees that dietary supplements are not intended to replace a healthy diet. However, portraying supplements primarily as redundant, risky, or driven only by social media influence oversimplifies a far more nuanced scientific and nutritional reality,” CRN said.
According to CRN, federal nutrition surveillance data consistently show millions of Americans fail to meet recommended intakes for key nutrients from food alone. Common shortfalls include vitamin D, magnesium, calcium, fiber, potassium and vitamin B12.
“Notably, the article itself cites that approximately half of U.S. adults do not consume adequate magnesium yet still emphasizes food-first strategies without fully acknowledging that persistent gaps remain despite longstanding dietary guidance. In these cases, supplements are not merely optional “insurance,” but a practical, science-backed means of helping individuals meet established nutritional recommendations,” CRN explained.
CRN agreed that whole foods provide important health benefits beyond isolated nutrients. However, decades of public health messaging encouraging Americans to eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish have not eliminated nutrient inadequacies.
The article also raised concerns about “contamination, excess intake and interactions,” but does not reflect the existing regulatory framework governing dietary supplements in the United States. All supplement manufacturers are required to operate under current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs), such as identity testing, purity standards and quality controls.
According to CRN, most Americans use supplements safely and responsibly, often following label directions or advice from health care providers. Risks, where applicable, should be addressed through education and transparency, not “broad dismissal of an entire category.”
“CRN believes consumers deserve nuanced, evidence-based information that reflects real-world nutritional challenges. Positioning supplements as largely unnecessary risks discouraging appropriate use among the majority of Americans who do not meet adequate intake for one or more essential nutrients,” CRN said. “This is particularly concerning for older adults, women of childbearing age, and adolescents, populations the Dietary Guidelines for Americans specifically identify as vulnerable to nutrient shortfalls. The question is not whether Americans should choose food or supplements, but how both can responsibly work together to support health.”
For more information, visit www.crnusa.org.
