7 supplements you probably don’t need

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), most adults and children in the United States take dietary supplements or vitamins. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates supplements somewhat once they hit the shelves, the products don’t have to be proven safe or effective before they’re sold.

And here’s another thing: Most people can get their necessary nutrients by eating a well-balanced diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains, and lean meats.

“I would rather have people eating a good diet and getting their vitamins that way,” says Keith Roach, MD, associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City and an associate attending physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Here's what you need to know about seven popular supplements, including who might need to take them and who can probably skip them.