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Consumers Returned to Pre-Pandemic Supplement Usage in 2021, ConsumerLab Survey Reveals
White Plains, New York, February 24, 2022 —A survey of 8,049 people who use dietary supplements shows many supplements that declined in use in 2020 began bouncing back in 2021, such as magnesium (+2.4 percentage points), and CoQ10 (+2.7 pts). In fact, 25 of the 30 most popular supplements rose in usage in 2021 in contrast to 2020 when two-thirds declined, suggesting a return to pre-pandemic supplement usage.
Supplements that experienced the greatest growth in popularity in 2021 were iron (+4.2 pts), fiber (such as psyllium) (+4.1 pts), and melatonin (+3.9 pts). Supplements that experienced large increases in popularity in 2020 due to their promotion to prevent or treat COVID-19, such as zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D, quercetin, and elderberry were largely flat.
(% Survey Respondents Purchasing in Past Year)
The results are based on responses to the most recent ConsumerLab.com Survey of Vitamin and Supplement Users. The Survey is conducted each year in November/December among readers of ConsumerLab.com's newsletter who utilize ConsumerLab's product reviews and information when choosing and using supplements and health foods. The ConsumerLab.com Survey was first conducted in 2002. Respondents are active users of supplements, with over 80.6% taking at least four different supplements daily.
The 2021 survey assessed the popularity of 205 types of supplements and analyzed popularity by respondent age, gender, and frequency of supplement use. Respondents also identified and rated their satisfaction with supplement brands and supplement merchants.
"The annual survey is a useful indicator of change in the market for dietary supplements and health foods. It guides our selection of products to test," said Tod Cooperman, M.D., ConsumerLab's President and Founder.
An extensive 150+ page report based on the survey will be available. To pre-order the report, contact Lisa Sabin at lisa.sabin@consumerlab.com.
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to continually updated reviews of nearly every popular type of dietary supplement and health food, answers to reader questions, and product recalls and warnings. ConsumerLab also provides independent product testing through its voluntary Quality Certification Program. The company is privately held and based in New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
Copyright 2022 ConsumerLab.com, LLC. All rights reserved. It is unlawful to copy, excerpt, or distribute this content, nor use it for any promotional or commercial purpose, without express prior written permission from ConsumerLab.com, LLC.
Supplements that experienced the greatest growth in popularity in 2021 were iron (+4.2 pts), fiber (such as psyllium) (+4.1 pts), and melatonin (+3.9 pts). Supplements that experienced large increases in popularity in 2020 due to their promotion to prevent or treat COVID-19, such as zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D, quercetin, and elderberry were largely flat.
Most Popular Vitamins and Supplements
(% Survey Respondents Purchasing in Past Year)
| Vitamin D (D2 & D3) | 72.6% |
| Magnesium | 51.8% |
| Fish Oil/Krill Oil/Algae Oil/Omega-3 (EPA/DHA) |
50.5% |
| CoQ10/Ubiquinol/MitoQ | 45.0% |
| Multivitamin/Multimineral (including Prenatal) |
43.3% |
| Vitamin C (including Rose Hips) | 41.9% |
| Probiotic (e.g., Acidophilus, Lactobacillus) | 38.7% |
| Zinc | 36.9% |
| Curcumin/Turmeric (as Supplement) | 35.9% |
| B-12 (Cobalamin) | 33.3% |
| B-Complex | 33.0% |
| Calcium | 30.9% |
| Melatonin | 29.5% |
| Vitamin K (including MK-7 K2) | 25.9% |
| Green Tea | 23.9% |
| Collagen | 23.3% |
| Joint Health Formula (Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, Boswellia) |
21.9% |
| Protein/Nutrition Powders & Drinks (includes Whey) |
20.5% |
| Cocoa and/or Dark Chocolate | 20.4% |
| Apple Cider Vinegar | 19.0% |
| Ashwagandha | 18.8% |
| Fiber (including Psyllium & Beta Glucan) | 17.8% |
| Digestive Enzymes | 17.3% |
| Alpha Lipoic Acid | 17.1% |
| Quercetin | 17.0% |
| Chia Seed | 16.2% |
| Lutein/Zeaxanthin | 16.2% |
| NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) | 16.1% |
| Protein/Nutrition Bars | 16.0% |
| Coconut Oil | 15.6% |
Source: Top 30 of 205 supplements and health foods in 2021 ConsumerLab Vitamin and Supplement Users Survey.
The results are based on responses to the most recent ConsumerLab.com Survey of Vitamin and Supplement Users. The Survey is conducted each year in November/December among readers of ConsumerLab.com's newsletter who utilize ConsumerLab's product reviews and information when choosing and using supplements and health foods. The ConsumerLab.com Survey was first conducted in 2002. Respondents are active users of supplements, with over 80.6% taking at least four different supplements daily.
The 2021 survey assessed the popularity of 205 types of supplements and analyzed popularity by respondent age, gender, and frequency of supplement use. Respondents also identified and rated their satisfaction with supplement brands and supplement merchants.
"The annual survey is a useful indicator of change in the market for dietary supplements and health foods. It guides our selection of products to test," said Tod Cooperman, M.D., ConsumerLab's President and Founder.
An extensive 150+ page report based on the survey will be available. To pre-order the report, contact Lisa Sabin at lisa.sabin@consumerlab.com.
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to continually updated reviews of nearly every popular type of dietary supplement and health food, answers to reader questions, and product recalls and warnings. ConsumerLab also provides independent product testing through its voluntary Quality Certification Program. The company is privately held and based in New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
Copyright 2022 ConsumerLab.com, LLC. All rights reserved. It is unlawful to copy, excerpt, or distribute this content, nor use it for any promotional or commercial purpose, without express prior written permission from ConsumerLab.com, LLC.
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