25+ Vitamin Statistics to Replenish Your Nutritional Gaps in 2023

Most of the body’s vitamin needs can be met by consuming a healthy diet and following standard dietary guidelines.

But many people in developed and developing countries alike suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiency, malnutrition, and obesity. All of these cause illnesses and cost a lot of resources.

Awareness and availability of healthy foods and supplements around the world are increasing, and the supplement market is growing.

Let’s discuss some trends, usage, markets, and problems by looking at supplement and vitamin statistics.

Vitamin Trends

The trends of the vitamin market give a good perspective on upcoming growth.

1. The vitamin market is expected to reach $210 billion by the year 2026.

Source: Reports and Data

Vitamin statistics and market analysis of revenue show that the market will reach $210 billion by 2026, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%.

Supplement Usage Statistics

Dietary supplement usage is growing at a high rate in the US and much of the world. These products provide nutritional value and help us stay healthy, while deficiencies create problems. Dietary supplements include multivitamins, vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients.

2. The most popular supplement in 2020 was Vitamin D.

Source: MDLinx

In a survey of around 9,800 supplement users, Vitamin D was the most popular choice, and nearly two-thirds (66%) of the respondents purchased it. They mainly consumed it because of the wide range of conditions and ailments it improves.

Vitamin D is purported to help prevent hypertension, metabolic syndrome, breast cancer, bone health, fatty liver, type 1 diabetes, and many more problems.

3. 77% of American adults consume at least one dietary supplement.

Source: CRN

According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition, dietary supplement consumption has reached an all-time high, with 77% of American adults consuming at least one. The highest consumption rate (81%) was reported for the age bracket of 35 to 54-year-olds.

These findings seem to be in line with survey data from the previous year and suggest that the supplement market is continuously growing.

4. Postmenopausal women and vegetarians are at a higher risk of dietary calcium deficiency.

Source: NIH

In the first few years of menopause, women experience a 3% to 5% decrease in bone mass annually, which drops to around 1% per year after 65. As for vegetarians, they absorb less calcium due to their diet containing more phytic and oxalic acid and less dairy.

This puts postmenopausal women and vegetarians at a higher risk of dietary calcium deficiency than other groups of people.

5. Among Americans, 68% of adult males and 77% of adult females report using dietary supplements in 2020.

Source: Statista

Supplements industry statistics clarify that the US market has seen significant growth, especially for vitamin and protein supplements. A survey conducted in August of 2020 revealed that 77% of adult females and 68% of adult males in the US use dietary supplements.

This is in line with other surveys and dietary supplement statistics that suggest similar trends among adults.

6. The market size by revenue of the online vitamin and supplement industry is projected to reach $20.7 billion in 2021.

Source: IBISWorld

According to supplement industry statistics, the market size by online vitamin and supplement sales revenue is expected to be $20.7 billion in 2021. This is a projected increase of 13.2% from the previous year. The market growth since 2016 has been around 15.2% per year.

7. Dietary supplements are taken in various forms, including pills, powder, gummies, and even drinks and energy bars.

Source: NIH

Americans have consumed federally regulated dietary supplements since as early as the 1940s. Over the decades, they’ve taken different shapes and are now available as capsules, tablets, liquids, powder, gummies, and even energy bars.

8. Gummies are among the most widely consumed type of vitamin supplements.

Source: Healthline

Gummies are chewable, and unlike other types of vitamin supplements, they come in many different flavors, shapes, and colors, making them very easy for kids to consume. They taste like candy and don’t have to be swallowed.

Even adults who don’t like capsules or tablets can easily consume these chewable supplements, making gummies one of the most popular vitamin consumption choices.

9. Vitamins come in two main groups: water-soluble and fat-soluble.

Source: VeryWellHealth, MedicineNet

Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in our body tissue and absorbed by fat globules. They reach the blood circulation through the lymphatic system.

On the other hand, water-soluble vitamins are quick to absorb and don’t remain in our bodies for long. This means that they need to be replaced more regularly than fat-soluble vitamins.

10. The second most popular category is specialty supplements (40%), followed by herbals and botanicals (39%), sports nutrition (28%), and weight management supplements (17%).

Source: CRN

Dietary supplement statistics indicate that after vitamin supplements, specialty, herbal and botanical, sports nutrition, and weight management supplements are the most widely consumed in the US at 40%, 39%, 28%, and 17%, respectively.

11. The global sports nutrition market is expected to increase in value to $81.5 billion by 2023.

Source: Statista

The global supplement market is growing, and supplement industry statistics show that the sports nutrition market, which consists mainly of protein supplements, is expected to increase to $81.5 billion by 2023. This is a significant projected increase from $50.84 billion in 2018.

12. Weight-loss-promoting supplements include vitamin D, B-complex vitamins, iron, and magnesium.

Source: Healthline

All B-complex vitamins are essential for a healthy metabolism, which in turn promotes weight loss. Vitamin D builds up the immune system, while magnesium and iron help produce energy from nutrition.

These functions make consuming supplements with these vitamins and minerals a great way to promote a healthy weight.

Mineral Supplement Usage

Mineral supplements are a great source of iron, calcium, magnesium, etc.—all needed for healthy functioning. Unfortunately, these minerals are often deficient in a large part of the global population.

13. Americans don’t get all their needed nutrients from food.

Source: CRN

While it’s not impossible, it’s difficult for Americans to get all their necessary nutrients like vitamins and minerals from diet alone. This is why supplements are a great option that helps maintain a healthy balance.

14. The body doesn’t need to break down a liquid extract, making absorption easier than tablets.

Source: Medicare

Our bodies absorb and use liquids much faster than solids, which means that supplements such as vitamins and minerals are better consumed in liquid extract form.

Benefits & Issues

Mineral and vitamin statistics indicate a host of problems caused by deficiency and the benefits of overcoming them.

15. Around 50% to 60% of American nursing home residents and hospitalized patients have vitamin D deficiency.

Source: NCBI

This is an alarmingly high rate. Additionally, half of the global population has vitamin D insufficiency, while one billion people worldwide have a deficiency. If appropriately maintained, healthy levels of this vitamin regulate calcium and phosphate to keep bones and muscles healthy.

16. Globally, vitamin A deficiency affects an estimated 190 million preschool-age children.

Source: CDC

Vitamin statistics show that vitamin A deficiency is not very common in developed countries like America, but it’s high in underdeveloped countries.

Specifically, it’s common in young children and puts them at a high risk of blindness and death caused by various measles infections.

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for vision, immunity, and fertility. Moreover, it helps organs like kidneys, lungs, and the heart function properly.

17. Dietary iron deficiency is the most common deficiency in the world, affecting more than 25% of the global population.

Source: WHO

WHO estimates that some two billion people worldwide, or over 25%, are anemic and that dietary iron deficiency is the leading cause.

Nutrition Gap

Nutrition gaps, severe malnutrition, and deficiencies cause long-term problems that can lead to serious medical issues. This can severely affect anyone from around the world, no matter their gender or age.

18. Nutritional deficiencies can lead to various health problems, including skin disorders, digestion problems, defective or stunted bone growth, and dementia.

Source: Healthline

Deficiencies of micronutrients can lead to various health problems, which can be solved once you are no longer deficient, but lasting damage can occur in some cases. This typically happens when the deficiency is severe.

This is especially dangerous for children who suffer from prolonged nutritional deficiency.

19. On average, Americans eat around 3,400mg of sodium per day.

Source: FDA

An average American consumes more sodium than recommended in the government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which is 2,300mg per day or about the same amount as one teaspoon of salt.

20. In the US, 19% of 2 to 19-year-olds and 40% of adults have obesity caused by improper nutrition.

Source: CDC

Obesity caused by unhealthy diets and insufficient exercise and sleep is a growing concern in America. 40% of adults and 19% of those under 19 years old suffer from obesity, which puts them at a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.

21. At least 80% of all heart diseases, strokes, and Type 2 diabetes, and up to 40% of cancers could be prevented if people ate better, exercised, and quit tobacco.

Source: Kansas State University

Heart diseases, strokes, and cancers are the leading causes of death, and they can all be significantly reduced with proper diet, exercise, and quitting tobacco.

22. 2.8 million people die each year because of obesity or being overweight.

Source: WHO

Obesity, which was once only linked to rich countries, is now heavily prevalent in developing and third-world nations.

The 2.8 million global obesity-related deaths per year indicate the issue has reached epidemic proportions.

23. 3.1 million, or 45%, of deaths in children under the age of five, are caused by malnutrition.

Source: Unicef

Global malnutrition in children under five is causing an alarming number of deaths. Around 3.1 million or 45% of total deaths in this age bracket result from malnutrition. Malnutrition causes children to become more susceptible to infections and recover slower from illnesses.

Here’s a breakdown of the estimated cost of different illnesses:

Disease	Cost
Osteoporosis	$10–20 billion
Diabetes	$327 billion
Cancer	$87.8 billion
Obesity	$342.2 billion
Stroke	$46 billion
High blood pressure	$48.6 billion

Multivitamins

Multivitamins are a great source of various nutrients packed into a single supplement. They contain a variety of vitamins and minerals and can provide a wide range of nutritional benefits. Their versatility has made them extremely popular among supplement users.

24. 73% of adult vitamin and mineral supplement users in the US take multivitamins.

Source: Statista

Multivitamins are the most commonly used supplement in American adults, with 73% of the population taking them.

These are followed by vitamin D, vitamin C, and calcium at 37%, 32%, and 26%.

25. The global market for multivitamin supplements was worth $23.4 billion in 2017 and is expected to grow to $37.9 billion by 2025.

Source: Statista

The multivitamin market was the largest in vitamin and mineral supplements at $23.4 billion in 2017, and the current growth rate is expected to propel this number to $37.9 billion by 2025.

26. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin A is 900mcg per day for men and 700mcg per day.

Source: NIH

The recommended daily allowance of vitamin A for men (900mcg) and women (700mcg) can easily be maintained by following a whole-food diet.

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means it can be stored in your body for longer and reach unhealthy levels. Experts recommend keeping it below 3,000mcg for adults to prevent toxicity.

27. Vitamin B12 deficiency is greater in men (25.5%) than in women (18.9%).

Source: Karger

Vitamin B12 deficiency is greater in men at 25.5% compared to women at 18.9%. These results cannot be explained by dietary habits or estrogen levels and require further studies and research of vitamin statistics.

Conclusion

Vitamin statistics show high deficiencies of vitamins and minerals even with the rapid growth and increasing popularity of supplements. Americans are some of the biggest consumers of vitamin, mineral, and multivitamin supplements.

Healthy nutrition and vitamin levels help reduce weight, keep people active and maintain good health. Conversely, deficiencies and malnutrition cause a host of problems, especially in developing countries. Many diseases can be defeated if more people start eating a well-rounded diet, exercise regularly, and quit tobacco.