At a glance
- 20-39
- 42.4%
- 40-59
- 59.2%
- 60+
- 74.3%
2018
2018
2018
| Group | Value |
|---|---|
| Ages 20-39 (any supplement) (20-39) | 42.4% |
| Ages 40-59 (any supplement) (40-59) | 59.2% |
| Ages 60+ (any supplement) (60+) | 74.3% |
| Ages 20-39 (multivitamin) (20-39) | 24% |
| Ages 40-59 (multivitamin) (40-59) | 29.8% |
| Ages 60+ (multivitamin) (60+) | 39.4% |
| Ages 20-39 (vitamin D) (20-39) | 6.7% |
| Ages 40-59 (vitamin D) (40-59) | 17.4% |
| Ages 60+ (vitamin D) (60+) | 36.9% |
| Ages 20-39 (omega-3) (20-39) | 5.4% |
| Ages 40-59 (omega-3) (40-59) | 12.5% |
| Ages 60+ (omega-3) (60+) | 21.8% |
Key takeaways
- Supplement use nearly doubled between the youngest and oldest adult age groups: 42.4% of adults aged 20-39 versus 74.3% of those aged 60 and older used supplements in 2017-2018.
- Across every supplement type measured (multivitamins, vitamin D, and omega-3s), use was substantially higher among older adults than younger adults.
- Vitamin D supplement use showed the sharpest age gradient: 6.7% among adults aged 20-39 rising to 36.9% among those aged 60 and older, a more than five-fold difference.
- Omega-3 supplement use followed a similar pattern: 5.4% in the 20-39 age group versus 21.8% among those aged 60 and older.
Dietary supplement use increases consistently with age among US adults, a pattern documented by NHANES across multiple survey cycles. In 2017-2018, 42.4% of adults aged 20-39 used any dietary supplement in the prior 30 days, compared with 59.2% of those aged 40-59 and 74.3% of those aged 60 and older.
This age gradient holds for every individual supplement type studied in NCHS Data Brief No. 399. Multivitamin-mineral use ranged from 24.0% among adults aged 20-39 to 39.4% among those aged 60 and older. Vitamin D use showed an even steeper climb: just 6.7% of adults in the youngest group used vitamin D supplements, compared with 17.4% in the middle age group and 36.9% among those 60 and older. Omega-3 fatty acid supplement use followed a similar trajectory: 5.4% at ages 20-39, 12.5% at ages 40-59, and 21.8% at ages 60 and older.
These data also reflect a decade of growth within each age group. In 2007-2008, supplement use among adults aged 20-39 was 34.7%, rising to 42.5% by 2017-2018. Among adults aged 60 and older, the figure grew from 66.9% to 74.3% over the same period. Every age group showed a statistically significant increase.
The steep rise in vitamin D supplement use with age is particularly notable. Among adults aged 60 and older, more than one in three reported vitamin D supplement use in 2017-2018, more than five times the rate seen in the 20-39 group. Healthcare providers increasingly recommend vitamin D supplementation for older populations, which likely contributes to this pattern.
We present these age-stratified figures because they reveal that supplement use is not a uniform behavior across adulthood. The type and frequency of supplement use shifts substantially from young adulthood through older age, which matters for understanding the population context around any specific supplement.
Methodology & sources
All figures are drawn from NCHS Data Brief No. 399 (February 2021), which analyzed the 2017-2018 NHANES cycle. NHANES uses a stratified, multistage probability cluster sampling design to produce estimates representative of the US civilian noninstitutionalized population. Supplement use was assessed during household interviews, with participants asked to show product containers. Age groups used (20-39, 40-59, 60+) are the same groupings as reported in the data brief. Trend comparisons use data from the 2007-2008 NHANES cycle as presented in the brief.
Sources
- Dietary Supplement Use Among Adults: United States, 2017-2018. NCHS Data Brief No. 399., CDC National Center for Health Statistics
- NHANES 2017-2018: Dietary Supplement Use 30-Day Data Documentation, CDC National Center for Health Statistics
Frequently asked questions
Why is supplement use so much higher among adults aged 60 and older?
NHANES documents the pattern but does not establish cause. Researchers note that older adults have more contact with the healthcare system, are more likely to receive supplement recommendations from providers, and have more established supplement habits over a lifetime. The data brief does not attribute cause.
Does this data cover seniors in nursing homes or assisted living?
No. NHANES samples the US civilian noninstitutionalized population. Adults in nursing homes, long-term care facilities, or other institutional settings are not captured in these figures.
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Supplements Unpacked. "Dietary Supplement Use by Age Group in the US (2017-2018)." https://supplementsunpacked.com/statistics/supplement-use-by-age (accessed 2026).