4 New Year, Fresh Start Health, fitness & beauty Do supplements work?


From vitamins to collagen, we look at the efficacy of over-the-counter supplements and whether tailor-made alternatives are superior. Words: Emma Gibbins


educator at Te Health Sciences Academy and UCL doctoral researcher, tells me that these include the formulation, the dosage of the active ingredient, the time of day taken, the person’s nutrient needs and their ability to absorb and utilise the active ingredients. “Te better question is, when do supplements work and when don’t they?” she says. Using the example of psychobiotics,


T


she explains that scientists have started to investigate their effectiveness for mood regulation — and their findings show they may not work for everyone. Vitamin and mineral supplements like omega-3 fish oil, on the other hand, have proven effective. “So much so that Public Health England has advised everyone to take 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day,” she says. “However, bear in mind that everyone reacts differently. Some iron formulations, for example, are specialised to minimise digestive discomfort.” Dietician Gillian Killiner adds that


there are many different products under the umbrella term ‘supplement’, which can be problematic for the consumer. “Te bottom line is that these have to be required by the body,” she says. “Tere’s no good reason to


It’s recommended that supplements are only taken under guidance


PHOTOGRAPH: GETTY


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here’s an abundance of research around the effectiveness of supplements. Alex Ruani, chief science


take excess amounts of anything if you haven’t checked you need it first.” Nutritionist Resource member


Dr Kirstie Lawton agrees: “It’s important to note that when taken in combination with other supplements, with medications, in high amounts, for extended periods or with known or underlying health conditions, supplements can be harmful to health,” she says. “Registered, qualified health professionals take all this into consideration and this is why it’s recommended that supplements are only taken under guidance.” Lorraine O’Connor, CEO of


CosmoSerge, says that on balance, she’s pro-supplement. “Collagen is great for the skin,” she says. “Oxidative stress causes fine lines, sagging, dullness and breakouts, so we need to protect our skin inside and out. Supplements can provide that extra inner protection, which is essential if you want to look and feel good.” She does add, however, that supplements should act as the support to a healthy diet and should never be over consumed. Tere are now also companies


providing supplementation recommendations based on genetic analysis. “Nutrigenomics is a fast- developing field and has the potential to allow us to personalise our dietary intake and supplement use,” says Kirsty. “But it’s still a very specialist area in the very early days of research, which means there are very few specialist clinicians that have the scientific knowledge to accurately interpret genetic reports and base supplementation on them. Ensuring that you’re eating a balanced, tailored diet is often all the medicine you need and should be the first consideration in any nutrition intervention.”


BackBaller — an Irish invention used by global sports stars


A small Irish company from Shannon, County Clare is offering relief to those unable to access their physiotherapist with a range of ingenious self-massage devices


he’d require back surgery to deal with a rupture between his L5 and S1 vertebrae. At the time, Noel noticed


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modern-day athletes were very engaged with the process of foam-rolling. Noel bought one and started a programme from Gerard Hartmann with the aim of releasing the tight muscles causing lower back pain. “It was working but every day


I used it, I was rolling all over the floor and saying to myself ‘Wouldn’t it be so much better if the roller was mounted on a frame to stabilise it’,” explains Noel. So, he made a prototype and began


using it. Just four weeks later, he was pain-free and began to regain his full range of motion. “I was able to run again,” Noel says.


“Tis thing changed my life and I knew it was a product that people would want.” Since


its launch in September


2016, BackBaller has become the go-to foam roller for many of the world’s leading sports stars


and


teams, including Manchester City. Based in Shannon, Muscle Ballers


T: +353 (0) 61 364085 M: +353 (0) 86 9127534 UK T: 01245 79 0320 E: noel@backballer.com backballer.com


t all started five years ago when Irish former international runner Noel Marshall was told


“Since its launch in 2016, BackBaller has become the go-to foam roller for many of the world’s leading sports stars and teams, including Manchester City”


is continuing to develop other self-myofascial release products as


its sales rise. Last year’s topped €1m (£870,000) and


company is on course to double that in 2020. “We’re exporting worldwide,” says


Noel. “We’ll continue to grow as people are realising the importance of good health and looking after themselves.”


sales the


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