Dietary supplements are available everywhere, but how effective are they? Yulia Reznikov/Getty Images hide caption
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Ugali, a staple starch in many parts of Africa, is filling but lacking in micronutrients. Julia Gunther for NPR hide caption
There is a whole subset of people who can't imagine popcorn without a sprinkling of nutritional yeast, which is naturally full of B vitamins that are harder to come by in meat-free diets. Getty Images hide caption
Scientists find that rice grown under elevated carbon conditions loses substantial amounts of protein, zinc, iron and B vitamins, depending on the variety. Maximilian Stock, Ltd./Getty Images/Passage hide caption
Folic acid in food might not be enough to prevent birth defects, a federal advisory panel says. Thus the recommendation for supplements. Mary Altaffer/AP hide caption
Yana Shapiro relaxes while taking an intravenous vitamin treatment at RestoreIV in Philadelphia. Emma Lee/WHYY hide caption
In northern climes, the winter sun is too weak for people to generate vitamin D on their own, and it can be hard to get enough in food. iStockphoto hide caption
In addition to heart problems triggered by some supplements, emergencies often arise when kids swallow dietary supplements meant for adults, according to the CDC analysis, or when older adults choke on the pills. Lee Woodgate/Ikon Images/Corbis hide caption
Ideally, we'd all eat super healthful diets. But that's not the world we live in, and multivitamins may help bridge the nutritional gaps. Jasper White/Getty Images hide caption
The Original Grape-Nuts, which now bear a non-GMO label, no longer contain vitamins A, D, B-12 and B-2. Claire Eggers/NPR hide caption
Vitamin E for your heart? Don't bother, new guidelines say. iStockphoto hide caption
Though some people might need more of specific vitamins, multivitamins don't help most people, studies say. iStockphoto hide caption
If only it was as simple as popping a supplement and being set for life. But alas, no. iStockphoto.com hide caption
Ads often tout dietary supplements and vitamins as "natural" remedies. But studies show megadoses of some vitamins can actually boost the risk of heart disease and cancer, warns Dr. Paul Offit. iStockphoto.com hide caption
In Washington's Columbia Heights neighborhood, Claire Robertson, a grad student, talks with Scott Hensley about retail health clinics. David Schultz/NPR hide caption
Pfizer will drop or qualify some health claims on labels and in ads for Centrum vitamins and supplements. CSPI hide caption