The vitamin and mineral supplement market is worth more than $32 billion, and 74 percent of Americans and two-thirds of people in the UK admit to using these supplements in an attempt to improve their health.
However, vitamin pills seem to be in the midst of a controversy.
Some research suggests that there is no clear evidence that they are beneficial, and some studies suggest that they may even harm you. So what is the evidence and what does it say?
Should we all take vitamin supplements? Or do some of us need them? And are they really necessary?
Why do people take vitamins?
Vitamins and minerals are compounds that our body cannot make, but they are still very important for our body. And since our body cannot make them on its own, we must obtain them through our diet.