Guide to using supplements, the new business (and obsession) of the stars

Once upon a time, the beauty secret (of Pulcinella) that actresses and models had in common was the simplest gesture par excellence: drinking lots of water. Today, self-care has become much more complicated than that: stars and top models increasingly “enrich” their glasses with powders and drops or use the sip of water to swallow pills and tablets of food supplements and nutraceuticals . Last year, for example, the TikTok video in which top model Bella Hadid showed her morning routine made headlines: a handful of pills, a smoothie and different versions of functional waters enriched with supplements and liquid ionic minerals, as well as a can of Kin Euphorics, a functional drinks brand that Hadid co-founded in 2021. The supermodel, in fact, is one of the many stars who in recent years have decided to invest in this business : after perfumes and cosmetics, the new entrepreneurial craze of celebs, in fact, are supplements .

Star wellness in pill format

To make a small, non-exhaustive list of celebrities who have become entrepreneurs in this area of ​​wellness, just within the Kardashian family , guardian of the sacred texts of trends, Khloé has just launched protein popcorn, while last year the weight control capsule from Lemme, the supplement brand founded by Kourtney, caused a stir. But in this business there are also Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, Ellen Pompeo, Cindy Crawford, Elle McPherson, Kate Hudson, Naomi Watts, Lo Bosworth, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Hyland and Kristen Bell . And the phenomenon is not just female: Arnold Schwarzenegger and LeBron James with their supplement brand, Ladder, offer energy sachets, while David Beckham , on the verge of 50, has co-founded the high-end supplement brand IM8, which offers a powder that supports energy and a capsule for cellular longevity.

The forbidden desire behind the success of these products? Ingesting a part of your favorite star to lift aging skin, a tired body or other ailments, in a sort of secular transubstantiation . Although, beyond the brands founded by the stars, the entire supplement market has grown in recent years, especially after the pandemic. According to Integratori & Salute, the association that represents the food supplement sector in Italy (part of Unione Italiana Food), in the last 10 years the consumption of supplements has increased by 60 percent, reaching 200 million packages sold in 2023. According to a 2024 survey conducted by the Future Concept Lab, also commissioned by Integratori & Salute, 7 out of 10 millennials use supplements today (70 percent) and 82 percent declare having used these products at least once in their lives.

What to Know Before Taking a Supplement

However, experts do not all agree on their use, mainly due to the limitations of the studies that test their effectiveness. “I would not say, as some doctors claim, that 'supplements are useless': they can be very useful, but only if personalized and chosen after a medical examination in the laboratory , according to the methods and doses recommended by experts,” says Dr. Vittoria Giannini , a nutritionist specializing in eating disorders and obesity. “In the case of nutritional deficiencies verified through blood tests or specific tests, supplements are precious, but taking them without the necessary tests can be not only useless, but in some cases even dangerous , for example if you are taking medications with which the supplements can interfere.”

Another point criticized for supplements and nutraceuticals concerns the tests with which their efficacy is verified. “ Epidemiological studies of the in vivo effects are very complicated because they are not free from interference: the analysis variables are almost infinite and it is very difficult to evaluate the efficacy of the supplement regardless of the patient's lifestyle and other variables related to well-being”, continues the doctor. For this reason, the intake of supplements is always intended in a way that is integrated with the lifestyle : “Supplements work best when they support a healthy base, integrated into a lifestyle that includes good nutrition, physical exercise and mental well-being”, tells us Dr. Camilla Freinek , genetic biologist responsible for the knowledge management team at Biogena.

Which supplement and why: a user guide

Freinek confirms that among the mistakes made when using supplements, the most common is to start taking them without correctly identifying your needs: “Without a targeted approach, supplementation risks being generic and less effective, while it should always be personalized. Furthermore, it is essential to choose high-quality supplements, preferring products free of useless additives and scientifically tested formulas that use bioavailable nutrients, or nutrients that the body can actually absorb. In fact, the form of administration , such as pure capsules versus tablets, also plays a decisive role in the absorption and tolerability of a supplement, along with the right dosage .”

The latter is another topic that raises many misunderstandings: “It is common to think 'more is better', but effectiveness does not depend on quantity, but on the balance and bioavailability of nutrients. We also remember that supplementation is a gradual process. The 'time' component is essential to restore or optimize nutrient levels and see tangible results”, explains the biologist. Finally, a good practice is to introduce them gradually, one at a time, to be able to evaluate their effects: “Signs such as digestive disorders, headaches or allergic reactions should lead to a reassessment – ​​concludes Dr. Camilla Freinek – for this reason, to be able to evaluate better, it is good to introduce supplements gradually and have regular consultations with health professionals or specialists, to ensure that they continue to meet your needs”.