By 2017, roughly 70% of older adults reported using at least one dietary supplement. More than half take two or more. Nearly a third take four or more. That level of use means pharmacists are almost certainly already counseling patients on supplements, whether they realize it or not.
Most of this use isn’t driven by a healthcare provider’s recommendation in the first place. Patients often start supplements based on advice from friends, advertising, or a general sense that “more support” for aging joints and bones can’t hurt, which makes pharmacist guidance especially valuable in sorting good evidence from marketing hype.
Glucosamine and chondroitin: still popular, still debated
Glucosamine and chondroitin remain among the most commonly used supplements for joint health, frequently taken together for osteoarthritis symptoms. The evidence on their effectiveness is mixed across studies, but many patients report subjective improvement, and the safety profile is generally favorable for most older adults.
The supplements with the strongest supporting evidence
Vitamin D and calcium remain foundational for bone health in older adults. Vitamin D specifically plays a key role in calcium absorption, which makes deficiency in either nutrient a compounding problem rather than two separate ones. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil supplements, have supporting evidence for joint comfort and broader cardiovascular benefits as well.
Multivitamins remain the single most commonly used supplement category among older adults. These are often used as a general safety net rather than to address one specific deficiency.
Related CE course for pharmacists: An Overview of Dietary Supplements
Why physiological changes with age matter
Aging brings changes to nearly every organ system, altering how the body absorbs nutrients, processes medications, and responds to physical activity. These shifts mean that supplement needs at 70 can look quite different from supplement needs at 40, even for someone in otherwise good health.
Interactions with prescription medications are a particular concern for pharmacists to watch for. Fish oil and certain joint supplements can affect blood clotting, and high-dose vitamin supplementation can interact with common chronic disease medications.
Who’s actually asking for these products
Women report using supplements more often than men. They’re specifically more likely to reach for products aimed at musculoskeletal health, which lines up with the higher rates of osteoporosis and joint issues women tend to experience as they age. Reasons cited for supplement use extend beyond joints too, including bone health, heart health, cholesterol management, and eye health.
Notably, most supplement use isn’t tied to a specific recommendation from a healthcare provider. Calcium, vitamin D, iron, and fiber are the exception, as these are more likely to be provider-recommended. That gap is exactly where pharmacist counseling can add the most value.
Related CE course for pharmacists: Supplements for Healthy Aging
The pharmacist’s role in sorting fact from marketing
Patients trust pharmacists as an accessible, judgment-free source of guidance on supplements. This puts pharmacists in a strong position to steer older adults toward products with real supporting evidence and away from those that are mostly marketing.
A brief conversation at pickup, asking what else a patient is taking and why, often uncovers supplement use that never made it into the official medication list, giving pharmacists a chance to flag a real interaction before it becomes a problem.
