Basically, a dietary supplement is whatever extra you consume on top of your normal daily diet. Supplements do not replace a healthy diet, but certain vitamins and mineral preparations can help meet the extra nutrient needs that many people may have today. The following factors can either deplete the body's reserves of nutrients or create the need for extra vitamins and minerals that are vital to health and wellbeing, which goes to show the importance of dietary supplements to replace the body's depleted reserves or increased demand.

1. POOR DIGESTION
Inefficient digestion may limit the body's absorption of vitamins even if food intake is good. Common reasons of inefficient digestion include not chewing well enough and eating too fast.

2. ALCOHOL
Drinking too much alcohol is known to damage the liver and pancreas which are vital to digestion and metabolism. It can also damage the lining of th intestinal tract and adversely affect the absorption of nutrients, leading to malnutrition. Regular heavy use of alcohol can increase the body's need for many nutrients, including B-group vitamins and the minerals zinc, magnesium and calcium. Excessive alcohol consumption can affect availability, absorption and metabolism of nutrients.

3. SMOKING
Tobacco smoke can act as an irritant to the digestive tract. It can also increase the metabolic requirements of vitamin C, all else being equal, by at least 30% compared to the typical requirements of a non-smoker.

4. CONVENIENCE/FAST FOODS
A diet that is too relient on highly-refined carbohydrates such as white rice, white flour and sugar, requires a larger demand on supplementary sources of B-group vitamins to process these carbohydrates. Unbalanced diets can contribute conditions like lethargy, irritability and sleep disorders.

5. ANTIBIOTICS
Although useful in fighting infection, some antibiotics can kill off friendly bacteria in the gut. These bacteria normally produce B-group vitamins to be readily absorbed across the intestinal mucosa layer. Such deficiencies can lead to a variety of conditions, therefore it may be advisable to supplement with B-group vitamins when on a lengthy course of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

6. ILLNESS
Surgery may increase the need for zinc, vitamin E and C and other nutrients involved in the cellular repair mechanism. The stress of infection places high demand on the requirements of vitamins B5, B6, C, zinc and magneium.

7. THE ELDERLY
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