A recent ConsumerLab.com survey of more than 11,000 dietary supplement users showed vitamin D was the most popular supplement, followed by fish oil, CoQ10, multivitamins and probiotics. This represents dramatic jumps in popularity for both vitamin D, which was fourth in popularity last year, and probiotics, which had been eighth.

The next most popular supplements were B vitamins, magnesium, curcumin/turmeric, vitamin C and calcium, followed by melatonin and protein/nutrition powders and drinks—both of which also rose significantly in popularity.

“The changes in supplement use very much reflect research findings and events that made headlines this past year,” said Tod Cooperman, MD, president of ConsumerLab.com, White Plains, NY. “For example, recent studies show a wide range of benefits when correcting vitamin D deficiency; improved immune function, gut function, and reduced anxiety with probiotics; better sleep and sedation with melatonin; and greater gains from resistance training with protein supplementation.”

The results are based on responses to the most recent ConsumerLab.com Survey of Vitamin and Supplement Users, which has been conducted each November since 2007 among readers of ConsumerLab.com’s e-newsletter. Respondents are predominantly heavy users of supplements, 75% of whom report taking at least four different supplements daily and actively seek information about these products.

Respondents also identified where they purchased their supplements and rated 963 brands and 399 merchants they used. The supplement brands and merchants receiving the highest ratings on overall consumer satisfaction within their specific market segments are listed on the ConsumerLab.com website.

“We began the annual survey several years ago to direct our product testing toward supplement categories and brands of greatest interest to ConsumerLab.com members,” said Dr. Cooperman. “It has evolved into an excellent barometer of the nutrition marketplace.”

For more information about the survey or to purchase the 114-page survey report, click here.