Women who are pregnant or breastfeedingPeople at risk for vitamin D deficiencyPeople at risk for osteoporosisPeople at risk for B-12 deficiency, including:o People age 50 or oldero Vegans who consume no animal foods

Get professional advice

Scroggs advises men and women to speak with a doctor or registered dietician before adding supplements to their diet. "Your doctor or dietician can determine which pills you really need and what dose you should take," Scroggs said.

"Keep in mind there's no vitamin or supplement that's good for everyone."

A registered dietician also can also provide advice about what to look for on supplement labels. This is important because some supplement labels can be confusing or misleading. Many companies claim their pills can cure cancer when, in fact, they don't, according to a recent Congressional study.

"Remember, supplements are just that ” supplements," Scroggs said. "Even if your doctor recommends them, your top priority should be getting the nutrients you need from the food you eat."

Source UT MD Anderson Cancer Center