Vitamin gummies and sprays can cost almost eight times as much as traditional pills – despite containing fewer nutrients, a new investigation has revealed.
asserted
investigation → cost → nutrients
Consumer watchdog Which? found that shoppers could save hundreds of pounds a year by switching to old-fashioned tablets or capsules.
uncertain
shoppers → find → tablets
It compared the prices, doses and additives of 20 supplements, including multivitamins, magnesium and menopause products.
asserted
It → compare → multivitamins
The analysis found that some newer supplements, marketed as more convenient and appealing alternatives to traditional pills, cost significantly more despite providing lower doses of key nutrients.
asserted
supplements → find → nutrients
Which? nutritionist Shefalee Loth warned shoppers not to be swayed by 'colourful packaging' or 'appealing flavours'.
asserted
Loth → warn → packaging
Among the priciest products was Starpowa's Magnesium Super Strength gummies, which cost £1.33 per daily dose.
Yet they provide just 206mg of magnesium – a mineral essential for healthy muscles, nerves and bones – despite being marketed as 'high strength'.
asserted
provide → cost → strength
By comparison, Nutriva Magnesium Complex tablets provide almost twice as much magnesium, at 400mg per daily dose, for just 17p.
asserted
tablets → provide → 17p
Shoppers could save themselves hundreds of pounds every year by ditching vitamin gummies and sprays for tablets, according to an analysis
By making this switch alone, shoppers could save more than £423 a year while getting a higher dose of magnesium, Which? said.
uncertain
? → save → magnesium
And the savings are not limited to one product.
asserted
savings → limit → product
Holland & Barrett's Magnesium Citrate gummies cost 63p per daily dose but provide just 150mg of magnesium.
asserted
gummies → cost → magnesium
The retailer's equivalent tablets cost less than half as much, at 30p a day, yet contain twice the dose.
asserted
tablets → cost → dose
A similar pattern emerged with multivitamins.
asserted
pattern → emerge → multivitamins
Boots Multivitamin gummies cost 15p a day but contain just nine vitamins, none at the full recommended daily amount.
asserted
gummies → cost → amount
By contrast, the pharmacy's A-Z Multivitamin tablets cost just 7p a day and contain all 23 nutrients considered essential in a multivitamin by Which? nutrition experts, most at recommended levels.
asserted
tablets → cost → levels
However, experts stress that most people do not need vitamin supplements at all.
asserted
people → stress → supplements
The NHS says a varied, balanced diet should provide most people with the nutrients they need, although supplements are recommended for certain groups and people with deficiencies.
And there are reasons why some people might prefer gummies, sprays or sachets.
uncertain
people → say → gummies
These alternatives can be easier for people who struggle to swallow tablets, including children, older adults and those with dysphagia – the medical term for difficulty swallowing.
asserted
who → struggle → difficulty
People with a dry mouth, a sensitive gag reflex or a fear of choking may also find them more appealing, while others simply prefer the taste.
uncertain
others → find → taste
The Boots gummies also contained twice as many additives as the tablets, including five different types of sugar and sweeteners.
asserted
gummies → contain → sugar
explained that gummies need extra ingredients to give them their sweet-like taste and texture, including sugars, flavourings, gelling agents and stabilisers.
asserted
gummies → explain → sugars
These take up space that could otherwise be used for vitamins and minerals, potentially reducing the amount of nutrients in each serving.
uncertain
that → take → serving
The watchdog urged shoppers to check supplement labels carefully, rather than assuming more expensive products offer greater benefits.
asserted
products → urge → benefits
'Gummies and supplement sprays might seem like an appealing alternative to swallowing tablets,' said Ms Loth.
uncertain
Loth → seem → tablets
'But we've found that they often contain lower doses of nutrients than traditional supplements, yet come with a much higher price tag.
asserted
they → find → tag
First, consider whether you actually need a supplement, then compare the nutrients and doses provided, as well as the cost per daily dose, to make sure you're getting the best value for money.'
asserted
you → consider → money
A Boots spokesman said supplements should not be regarded as a substitute for a balanced and varied diet.
asserted
supplements → say → diet
'Boots is committed to providing customers with a wide choice of products catering to different preferences, such as the option of gummies alongside traditional tablets,' he added.
asserted
he → commit → tablets
'Our pharmacy teams are available to offer advice and support to customers seeking to understand whether supplements are right for them and which format may best suit their individual needs.
uncertain
format → offer → needs
A Holland & Barrett spokesman said the retailer offered supplements to suit different needs, preferences and budgets, adding that its magnesium gummies made a 'meaningful' contribution to the recommended daily intake.
asserted
gummies → say → intake
'Gummies offer a convenient alternative for customers who prefer not to take tablets or capsules,' he said.
asserted
he → offer → tablets
'Ingredients such as gelling agents and sweeteners have a functional role in achieving the taste, texture and structure of gummies.
asserted
Ingredients → have → gummies
'We recognise that traditional tablets can provide higher doses at a lower cost, which is why we offer a range of formats, including our Magnesium Citrate tablets providing 300mg per daily serving, to help customers make informed choices.'
asserted
customers → recognise → choices
The Aporia
