Warning! ‘Candy’ vitamin gummies are the WORST way of getting your vital nutrients – and could leave you stuck on the toilet all day, according to experts

Supplement gummies have exploded in popularity in recent years as a tasty way to get your minerals and vitamins.

The nutritional supplements, which look like bite-sized sweets, create big business: the According to Straits Research, the global market was valued at US$7 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach US$13 billion by 2031.

Meanwhile, celebrities including Kourtney Kardashian and Gisele Bündchen have been touting their own concoctions for prices up to $35, which are said to improve everything from brain health to sleep quality.

Instead of the “health-promoting” ingredients being compressed into a hard pill or capsule, they are mixed with water and then mixed with gelatin, cornstarch and sugar.

But are they as effective and safe as regular vitamin pills?

Now experts have warned that the candied 'health boosters' are virtually useless – and certainly a worse choice than hard pills when it comes to supplements that can leave you with serious health problems.

First, gummies contain smaller amounts of vitamins and minerals than standard vitamin pills, experts warn.

Stefan Pasiakos, director of the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), said this is because the food additives, such as water and gelatin, erode the potency of the nutrients.

As a result, our body absorbs less of the active ingredients.

Manufacturers often put more of the vitamin in the gummy than the amount stated on the jar to combat this problem, Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com, a private company that conducts safety and quality testing of consumer products, told me. to TIME.

But this means it can be difficult to decipher exactly how much of a particular vitamin you've consumed.

And depending on when you eat the gummies, you may be getting too much of the vitamin, which has been linked to a higher risk of cancer.

A 2015 University of Colorado study found that men who took vitamin E had a higher risk of prostate cancer, while too much folic acid, a type of B vitamin, was linked to an increased risk of colon cancer.

Too much vitamins, such as vitamin C or zinc, can also lead to nausea, diarrhea and stomach cramps.

This problem can be exacerbated with gummy vitamins labeled “sugar-free,” as they are often sweetened with sugar alcohols instead — which are also known to cause bloating and diarrhea in large quantities.

This was supported by studies from the University of Turku in Finland in 2016 and the University of Salford in Great Britain in 2007.

For example, anything above 2,000 mg of vitamin C can cause diarrhea and nausea, according to Dr. Dawn Gerber, a clinical outpatient pharmacy specialist at Banner Health in Arizona.

Another reason why it's common for people to overdo the gummy vitamins is because they taste so good, experts say.

This can lead to people accidentally taking more than the recommended daily amount.

And just like candy, the gummies often contain an unhealthy dose of sugar and are sometimes even coated in sugar.

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 25 grams of sugar per day for women and 36 grams for men.

Gummy vitamins average two to eight grams per two gummy servings, which can cost you almost half your daily amount by evening.

And from a dental perspective, the gummies won't do any good. The sugar and citric acid in gummy vitamins can stick to your teeth and quickly cause cavities and tooth decay, doctors at The Cleveland Clinic said.

If children get their hands on the gummies, it can lead to a dangerous vitamin overdose.

This is a concern highlighted by dietitians as many of the gummies are shaped like toys and teddy bears.

If too much iron is taken, it can cause nausea, vomiting and stomach pain.

Excessive amounts of vitamin A can lead to vision problems and clumsiness.

Too much vitamin D can cause constipation and weak muscles.

New York nutritionist Nikki Ostrower and owner of NAO Wellness previously told Daily Mail Online that she never recommends gummy vitamins to her clients.

“Many gummy vitamins contain artificial fillers such as food colorings, some contain high fructose corn syrup and many preservatives,” she said.

Another potential problem is that some supplements can interact with other medications you may be taking. For example, vitamin K can interact with Warfarin, a blood thinner, Pasiakos told Discover Magazine.

Vitamin K shortens the time it takes for your blood to clot, which means warfarin may not work well enough to prevent a dangerous blood clot.

And then there is the question of whether you even need them.

Jane Ogden, professor of health psychology at the University of Surrey in Britain, told DailyMail.com that the best and most absorbable versions of vitamins come from food.

“For those who are reluctant to take pills, a gummy vitamin seems like a good option,” she said. 'Because people think they get the best of both worlds: something sweet that is healthy.

'But in the long term this is harmful because it legitimizes not eating well and people no longer make an effort to get these nutrients from a healthy, varied diet.'