In recent times there has been a shift not only in the way nutrients are understood but also in the way the body and bodily health are interpreted, represented, and personally experienced. Specifically, after pandemic in current times, there is a nutritional anxiety amongst consumers that we may not be getting enough of nutrients from ordinary or conventional foods. The anxiety is a strong influencing factor on diet behaviours of consumers.

The global lockdown has led consumers to switch over to homecooked foods and the consumption pattern of food has shifted from processed foods to home cooked foods in recent times. The sudden change in pattern has intensified anxiety and the perception of nutrient scarcity amongst common people. This perception, combined with the new assumptions now drives consumer demands for nutritional supplement. It is important to understand the meaning of a nutrition supplement and also the very basics that nutrition cannot be just components alone and a deep understanding of recommended daily allowance of nutrients is extremely essential.

Recommended Dietary Allowances: RDAs are the levels of intake of essential nutrients that, on the basis of scientific knowledge are established to be adequate to meet the known nutrient needs of practically all healthy persons.

A reading of Section 22 of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, provides the scope for use of the term nutrition supplements, which is harmonised with global definitions. Nutrition supplement is described as a dietary substance(s) for use by human beings to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake, and may contain 

(a) plant or botanicals or their parts in the form of powder, concentrate or extracts in water, ethyl alcohol or hydro-alcoholic extracts, single or in combination;

 (b) Minerals or vitamins or proteins or metals or their compounds or amino acids, or enzymes, or

 (c) Substances from animal origin and 

(d) Whereby such products may be formulated in the form of powders, granules, tablets, capsules, liquids, jelly or other dosage forms; and which are not represented for use as conventional foods.

Supplements are available in a range of doses, and in different combinations. However, only a certain amount of each nutrient is needed for our bodies to function, and higher amounts are not necessarily better. Routine consumption of certain nutrients as supplements may interfere with absorption of other nutrients. Also it is a scientific fact that micronutrients from food are better absorbed and more bioavailable than vitamin and mineral supplements, tablets, capsules or fortification. 

Balanced nutrition essentially promotes the normal healthy development and functioning of all systems. There are about 40 known nutrients that are required by the body to function well. At least 39 essential nutrients must be provided by our food. Along with macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins and fats these also include micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals, essential amino acids, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

No nutrient works in isolation as a single influencing factor alone; it is obvious that a deficiency in one leads to sub optimal functioning of others. Not only has this had the manner in which the nutrients are derived naturally needed further understanding.  To take an elaborate example of one of the nutrients, Omega-6 is available in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds and grains. The essential omega-3 fatty acid ALA is found in green leafy vegetables, seaweed (a rich source), soya, flax, some nuts and seeds (walnut and pumpkin), but the key long chain omega-3 PUFAs - Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) - are mostly found pre-formed in appreciable quantities in fish and other seafood. 

The omega-3 long chain PUFAs can be synthesised slowly from shorter omega-3s such as Alpha-linolenic acid (18 Carbon atoms) derived from plant sources (rapeseed, flax, walnut), but the longer chain omega-3 PUFAs, EPA (20 C) and DHA (22C) that are required by the brain, are obtained much more efficiently from oily fish.

However, even these fish do not synthesise them themselves; they derive them from algae including sea weed. Some companies are now using genetically engineered seaweed and simpler forms of algae to produce DHA and EPA. All unsaturated chemical compounds are vulnerable to attack by peroxide free radicals. These can damage most living systems and are responsible for initiating many diseases, including cancer. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in the body need protection. Antioxidants such as the tocopherols (E306-9, also known as Vitamin E) can do this.

Vitamin E is highly polyunsaturated and it mops up the dangerous free radicals before they can attack the fatty acids. Thus, many of the supplements used in trials in which omega-3 has been an active ingredient have also included small amounts of vitamin E. Oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated omega-9 fatty acid, is also easily oxidised and can act as a free radical barrier for EFAs.

The anxiety led perception has led to a surge in market demand of the nutritional supplement products and diet behaviours of the consumers. However the consumer understanding of body health and nutrient interaction may not be at a stage of mature understanding. Food consumption and lifestyle directly impact nutritional health and well-being in everyday life of todays consumers. This provides enormous challenges to both consumers and professionals. For consumers, food choice is determined by habits, lifestyle, preferences, taste and so on. 

The challenges with respect to food and nutrition, health and behaviour, require innovations both in scientific knowledge as such, as well as its translation into societal practice. Usage of supplements is changing. Older studies and pollsters suggest that one of the biggest trends in the health care industry is that consumers are taking charge of their health and seeking alternative forms of medicine. Supplement use has also been related to various health-related behaviour patterns.

Generally, positive lifestyle factors are associated with increased supplement usage. Consumers who seem to be more sensitive to dietary messages (such as maintain optimal weight, consume adequate levels of micronutrients and eat fruits and vegetables) also prefer to consume supplements. It is extremely important to emphasise and educate the consumer that supplements are not a substitute for a balanced nutrition. There is a need for raising more awareness amongst the consumers to influence the food consumption pattern including nutritional supplements where required because only population groups may be advised to take specific supplements depending upon the nutritional status. The overall message is: follow a healthy, balanced diet, carefully read labels of supplements and fortified foods, and avoid taking multiple doses that exceed the RDAs.