The multi-billion pound supplement industry is often criticised by experts, with some products making unsubstantiated claims about transformative health benefits. And yet online sales of “longevity supplements” that promise to slow down ageing are growing steadily.
A recent survey from Bupa found Britons are increasingly buying supplements based on advice given by influencers on social media, and nearly half of those polled said their spending on these products had increased over the past year. One study found that nearly half of UK adults spend more than £120 a year on health supplements promoted on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
We should generally be sceptical when it comes to supplements, believes Professor Bruno Ribeiro, a neurocognitive psychologist at the University of Murcia in Spain, and longevity specialist at the health resort ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea. “The distinction to make is that some supplements have convincing human evidence behind them. Many others are still [tested on] animals only,” Ribeiro says.
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Dr Sabine Donnai, founder of London health assessment clinic Viavi, also advises caution. “Supplements are not miracle anti-ageing pills; their value lies in correcting common biological vulnerabilities that may undermine healthy ageing over many years,” she says. “My principle is to measure where we can – via a blood test, for example – supplement for a reason, and then reassess rather than leaving people indefinitely on an ever-growing supplement stack.”
