Most people don't need to take supplements, it was reported last week.
We get enough vitamins and minerals from our diet, said Professor Brian Ratcliffe, a former government adviser on nutrition, so buying supplements is simply a waste of money.
But there are some people who could benefit - the over-60s.
'Retirement, the death of a partner, apathy and sometimes immobility can combine with the fact that your body's absorptive capacity drops off with age,' explains Susan Fairweather-Tait, professor of Mineral Metabolism at the University of East Anglia.
'The result is that unless you are eating very high-quality food, you could become nutritionally deficient as you get older.'
Here Professor Fairweather-Tait outlines certain vitamins that older people can lack. If you suspect your diet or absorptive abilities aren't as good as they should be, a good broad-spectrum multivitamin and mineral would be a safe option.
But if you feel you need individual supplements, always consult your GP or a nutritionist from the Nutrition Society - especially as some vitamins can interact with medication and other supplements.
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