Walk into any pharmacy or scroll online, and you’ll see shelves filled with vitamins, herbal blends, and “natural” remedies promising better sleep, sharper memory, and stronger joints. For many older adults, these products feel like a safe, low-risk way to stay healthy without relying solely on prescription medications. But health experts—and increasingly, public health data—are pushing back on that assumption. Supplement use is extremely common among older adults, with studies showing up to 84% of adults ages 65–79 take at least one supplement regularly. What’s more concerning is that supplement-related health issues are rising, highlighting a growing gap between perception and reality.
