Global Trends in Dietary Supplement Utilization and Prescriptıon-Related Signals: A Review with Exploratory Forecasting Implicatıons for Primary Care
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47363/JHS/2026(2)118Keywords:
Dietary Supplements, Vitamin D Deficiency, Vitamin B12 Deficiency, Primary Care Physicians, Family PracticeAbstract
Objective: To characterize global utilization trends of dietary supplements in primary care settings and to develop a forecasting model projecting supplement use through 2028.
Material and Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for studies published between January 2010 and May 2025 (searched June 2026). Studies reporting prescribing frequency, dispensing rates, or consumption trends in primary and ambulatory care were included. Data were harmonized into a utilization index via a seven-step pipeline, and Facebook Prophet time-series modeling was applied to project eight supplements through 2028. NHANES (2007–2023) biomarker data were incorporated to assess safety signals.
Results: Thirteen studies were included. Vitamin D demonstrated the steepest absolute trajectory (2028 projection: 1,987 [95% UI: 1,918–2,062]; +34.3%). Vitamin B12 (+38.3%), magnesium (+37.1%), and probiotics (+30.7%) grew fastest, whereas omega-3 (−17.0%) and vitamin C (−24.7%) declined. Excess vitamin D concentrations (>125 nmol/L) rose from 2.2% to 7.6% in the general population and reached 30.6% among multi-supplement users.
Conclusion: Vitamin D is projected to remain the leading primary care supplement through 2028, with B12, magnesium, and probiotics emerging as high-growth categories. Rising excess concentrations highlight an evidence–practice gap warranting active counseling. Prophet forecasting requires validation against independent prescribing data before clinical application.
