About 8 in 10 U.S. adults take at least one dietary supplement for health reasons, according to a Pew Research Center survey. Vitamins and minerals are the most common, with two-thirds of adults saying they currently use products such as multivitamins, iron or calcium.
The survey of 3,554 adults was conducted July 6-12 through Pew's American Trends Panel. Researchers defined supplements as products such as vitamins, minerals, herbal products, protein powders, melatonin and probiotics, excluding prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
Vitamins lead, while protein use skews younger
Thirty-one percent of adults said they use protein supplements such as powders, drinks or bars. One-quarter take omega-oil supplements, 19% use herbal supplements and 35% reported using another type, including products such as melatonin or probiotics.
Older adults were more likely than younger adults to use supplements overall. Among adults 65 and older, 85% reported taking at least one, compared with 67% of people younger than 30.
The largest age gap involved vitamins and minerals. Eighty-one percent of adults 65 and older used those products, compared with 48% of adults under 30.
Protein supplements showed the opposite pattern. Thirty-seven percent of adults ages 18 to 29 and 35% of those ages 30 to 49 used them, compared with 23% of adults 65 and older.
Women were slightly more likely than men to report using supplements, 82% to 74%. Pew said that gap reflected higher reported use among women of vitamins, minerals, herbals and other products.
Four in 10 Asian adults reported taking omega oils, compared with about one-quarter of Hispanic, Black and White adults.
Pew found smaller age differences in the use of omega oils, herbal products and supplements outside the listed categories. The overall gender difference did not extend uniformly across every type of product, and protein use was driven more strongly by age.
Users often consider supplements important
Among people who take vitamins or minerals, 62% said the products were extremely or very important to their health and another 33% called them somewhat important. Sixty-three percent of omega-oil users said those products were extremely or very important.
Smaller shares of people using herbal products or protein supplements gave them the highest importance ratings. Fifty-one percent of herbal users and 44% of protein supplement users said the products were extremely or very important.
Pew noted that supplements do not require approval from the Food and Drug Administration before they are marketed, unlike prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Medical professionals have long debated benefits and risks and often advise consumers to use caution.
The global supplement industry was valued at an estimated $209.5 billion in 2025, according to figures cited by Pew. The products have also become a frequent subject for health and wellness influencers on social media.
The survey was designed to represent the U.S. adult population. Pew published the full questions, detailed responses and methodology with its analysis.
Researchers said the findings describe current use and perceived importance, not clinical effectiveness.
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