Many people don’t get enough nutrients from the diet alone (1).
Currently, over half of the US population takes synthetic nutrients like multivitamins (2).
However, there has been much debate over whether synthetic nutrients provide the same benefits as natural nutrients.
Some sources even suggest that synthetic nutrients may be dangerous.
This article takes an objective look at the science on synthetic and natural nutrients.
Here’s the difference between natural and synthetic nutrients:
The majority of supplements available on the market today are made artificially. These include vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and amino acids, among others.
They can be taken in pill, capsule, tablet, powder or liquid form, and are made to mimic the way natural nutrients act in our bodies.
To figure out if your supplement is synthetic or natural, check the label. Natural supplements usually list food sources or are labeled as 100% plant or animal-based.
Supplements that list nutrients individually, such as vitamin C, or use chemical names like ascorbic acid, are almost certainly synthetic.
Bottom Line:Synthetic nutrients are dietary supplements made artificially in a laboratory setting or industrial process. Natural nutrients are those found in whole foods.
The accepted view is that synthetic nutrients are almost chemically identical to those found in food.
However, the production process of synthetic nutrients is very different to the way plants and animals create them. So despite having a similar structure, your body may react differently to synthetic nutrients.
Additionally, it’s unclear how well synthetic nutrients are absorbed and used in the body. Some may be more easily absorbed, not others (3).
This is because when you eat real food, you’re not consuming single nutrients, but rather a whole range of vitamins, minerals, co-factors and enzymes that allow for optimal use by the body.
Without these additional compounds, synthetic nutrients are unlikely to be used by the body in the same way as their natural counterparts (4).
For example, studies show that natural vitamin E is absorbed twice as efficiently as synthetic vitamin E (5).
Bottom Line:It is unclear how well synthetic nutrients are absorbed and used in the body. Your body will use nutrients best when taken in whole food form, with a wide variety of food compounds.
Natural whole foods may help manage and prevent heart disease, diabetes, cancer and early death.
These benefits have been linked to the wide range of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber and fatty acids found in whole foods.
Fruits and vegetables provide us with fiber, vitamins, minerals and plant compounds, which are thought to be responsible for many health benefits.
Observational studies show that higher fruit and vegetable intake is linked to a lower risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and some brain disorders (6, 7, 8).
Increased fruit intake is also linked to lower blood pressure, reduced oxidative stress and improved blood sugar control (9, 10).
One review found that for each daily portion of fruit or vegetables consumed, the risk of heart disease decreased by 4–7% (11).
Scientists believe that the high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish are responsible for improved heart health.
Many large observational studies have shown that people who eat fish regularly have a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes and death from heart disease (12, 13, 14, 15).
One study of more than 40,000 males aged 40–75 found that those who regularly ate one or more servings of fish per week had a 15% lower risk of heart disease (16).
Experts believe that the high soluble fiber content and the wide range of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in beans and legumes may help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers (17, 18, 19).
Eating one serving of legumes like beans, peas and chickpeas each day has been linked to 5% lower LDL cholesterol levels and a 5-6% lower risk of heart disease (20).
Nuts and seeds are high in antioxidants, minerals and healthy fats. They have been associated with a reduced risk of early death, heart disease and diabetes (21, 22).
One review found that 4 weekly servings of nuts was linked to a 28% lower risk of heart disease, and 22% lower risk of diabetes (22).
Whole grains contain many valuable nutrients, including fiber, B vitamins and minerals such as iron, magnesium and selenium.
Whole grain consumption has also been associated with protection against cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity (23).
Bottom Line:Evidence supports the idea that natural nutrients found in whole foods can prevent against a wide range of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and premature death.
Although it’s clear that natural nutrients are associated with many health benefits, the evidence for synthetic supplements is mixed.
Some observational studies have found multivitamin use to be associated with a lower risk of heart disease and cancer (24, 25, 26, 27, 28).
However, other studies have found no effect (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34).
Some even link multivitamin use to increased cancer risk (35, 36, 37, 38).
One large study looked into the effects of a high-dose multivitamin on heart health. After almost 5 years, the study found that multivitamins had no beneficial effect (39).
However, several other studies have linked multivitamin supplements to improved memory in older adults (40, 41, 42, 43).
Nevertheless, the Physicians’ Health Study II found that 12 years of daily multivitamin use did not affect brain function or memory for men over 65 (44).
One review found no clear evidence that single or paired supplements benefit heart disease (45).
However, some previous studies suggest that B vitamins like folic acid may improve brain function (46).
Yet other strong studies report that dietary supplements, including B vitamins, do not improve brain function (47, 48).
Despite knowing that adequate vitamin D levels are critical for good health and disease prevention, vitamin D supplements are also under much scrutiny (49, 50).
Vitamin D supplements have been linked to numerous benefits related to cancer, bone health and brain function, to name a few. Yet experts agree more evidence is needed (50, 51).
One thing experts generally agree on is that vitamin D supplements, when combined with calcium, can improve bone health in older people (50).
Several reviews have found no evidence to support antioxidant supplements, including beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, E, and selenium (alone or in combination) for reduced risk of death and cancer (52, 53).
In fact, beta-carotene supplements have been shown to increase the risk of cancer in smokers (54).
Nonetheless, antioxidant vitamins and minerals may help slow down the progression of diseases that cause blindness. However, more research is needed (55, 56).
Bottom Line:Studies about the beneficial health effects of many synthetic nutrients have been inconsistent, weak or shown no effect.
There is no clear evidence to suggest that most synthetic nutrients are beneficial for healthy, well-nourished people.
However, there are certain groups who may benefit from supplementing with synthetic nutrients. These include:
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For certain groups of people at risk of nutritional deficiencies, certain synthetic supplements can be beneficial.
In general, taking supplements according to the amounts directed on the package is safe for most people.
However, the FDA does not review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. Therefore, supplement fraud can occur.
This means that supplements can contain more or less nutrients than stated on the label. Others may contain substances not listed on the label.
If you already consume a wide range of nutrients through your diet, taking extra supplements can exceed the recommended daily intake of many nutrients.
When taken in excess, water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and B vitamins are flushed out of the body through your urine. However, fat-soluble vitamins — vitamins A, D, E, and K — may be stored in the body. This means that there is a risk of them accumulating to high levels, leading to hypervitaminosis.
Pregnant women need to be especially careful with their vitamin A intake, as excess amounts have been linked to birth defects (63).
Results from many clinical trials show that beta-carotene, vitamin E, and possibly high doses of vitamin A can increase the risk of premature death (64, 65).
Other studies have linked multivitamin use to increased cancer risk, and iron supplements can be harmful for people who don’t need them (66, 67, 68, 69).
There is also some evidence that synthetic folic acid is more harmful than the natural folate in foods. It may build up in the body and raise the risk of cancer (70, 71, 72).
Bottom Line:Taking large amounts of synthetic nutrients can have harmful health effects. Recommended daily doses are safe for most people, but caution is advised.
Research consistently shows that synthetic nutrients are no replacement for a healthy, balanced diet.
Getting natural nutrients from whole foods is always a better option.
However, if you are truly lacking in a specific nutrient, then taking a supplement can be beneficial.