About 8 in 10 Americans take supplements, and many see them as important to their health

September 11, 2026

A new survey suggests that nearly eight in ten adults in the United States are currently taking at least one dietary supplement, including one in three people who are using protein powders, bars and drinks.

The survey, conducted by Pew Research Center, was small. But it suggests that supplements, long used by many Americans, are becoming ever more popular — even as medical experts say that many of these products are unlikely to meaningfully improve health.

“I would guess that well over 80, 90 percent of supplement consumption doesn’t offer any proven benefit to the person who’s taking it,” said Dr. Pieter Cohen, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Of the 3,554 U.S. adults surveyed, 31 percent reported taking protein supplements, with use highest among adults under age 50.

Vitamins and minerals were the most commonly reported supplement type, taken by 67 percent of participants. The survey also found that 25 percent of people were taking omega-3, fish oil or krill oil supplements and nearly 20 percent were taking herbal supplements, like ginseng or ashwagandha, an Ayurvedic herb. New York Times