Supplements: The Untold Risks Behind the Wellness Hype

For years, supplements have enjoyed an almost sacred status in the wellness world. Seen as safe, natural, and a smarter alternative to pharmaceuticals, they’re sold in supermarkets, pharmacies, influencer feeds, and health food stores across Australia.

But what happens when “natural” isn’t harmless?

Liver failure, toxicity, and the supplement blind spot

A growing body of international research is highlighting what Australian regulators and consumers have been slow to confront: supplements are not risk-free. A 2022 study in Liver Transplantation found that supplement-related liver failure in the U.S. had increased eightfold over 25 years. In Australia, adverse reactions to complementary medicines—including liver damage, kidney stress, and drug interactions—have quietly made their way into hospital admissions and TGA adverse event reports.

The TGA receives hundreds of reports of supplement-linked side effects each year. These range from allergic reactions and digestive issues to more serious complications, including liver injury and cardiac events—particularly when supplements are stacked, taken in high doses, or used in combination with prescription medications.

Yet many Australians remain unaware of these risks. Why? Because supplements are often marketed like food, not medicine.

The regulation gap

Unlike prescription medications, supplements in Australia (including herbal pills, powders, and “therapeutic” vitamins) don’t require clinical trials to be sold. Most are classified as “low risk” and listed rather than registered with the TGA. That means companies are not required to provide robust evidence of safety or efficacy before their product hits the shelves.

Instead, responsibility for accuracy, claims, and safety often falls to the sponsor (manufacturer or distributor)—and in practice, this system is vulnerable to misuse. A 2019 TGA compliance review found that 80% of the listed supplements they audited failed to meet advertising or evidence requirements.

Still, the Australian supplement market is booming—worth over $5.5 billion annually and growing fast, particularly among health-conscious millennials and midlife women looking to boost energy, manage hormones, or support longevity.

When “wellness” becomes marketing

The line between health support and health claim is blurry—and often deliberately so. Terms like “supports detox,” “boosts vitality,” and “balances hormones” are commonly used to imply benefits without triggering regulatory red flags. But many of these claims are based on outdated or low-quality studies, or extrapolated from isolated ingredient-level research—often in animals or test tubes, not humans.

It’s not uncommon to see a supplement promoted with statements like:

“This herb supports immune and gut health.”
“Evidence-based estimates rooted in clinical science at the ingredient level.”

But what’s often missing is context: Which studies? What dosage? In what population? And is there evidence of harm?

Australians deserve to know that “evidence-based” is not a guarantee—and that therapeutic claims without robust human clinical trials carry risk.

The risk of over-supplementation

Take iron, for example. Commonly self-prescribed for fatigue, it’s one of the most misused supplements in Australia. But if taken without testing or monitoring, it can cause iron overload—damaging the liver, heart, and joints.

Vitamin A, selenium, and zinc are similar: essential in small amounts, toxic in excess. Even seemingly harmless “daily greens” powders or high-dose multivitamins can tip the balance if taken alongside a diet already rich in fortified or nutrient-dense foods.

And because supplements often interact with each other—and with medications—the risks multiply when people take several products without guidance.

Why testing matters before supplementing

The core problem is this: many people are taking supplements “just in case,” without knowing whether they need them.

In fact, a 2023 CSIRO survey found that nearly 60% of supplement users in Australia had never had their nutrient levels tested. Yet the most responsible approach to supplementation—especially for longevity, hormone health, or chronic fatigue—is data-driven.

Testing first means you can identify:

Nutrient deficiencies that do need correcting
Nutrient excesses that could be causing symptoms
Interactions with medications or other supplements
Whether supplements are working over time

At Biolume, we see this every day in blood data. A person might be low in B12 but high in folate. Or taking zinc supplements when copper is already low. Or unknowingly pushing liver enzymes higher due to herbal combinations marketed for “cleanse and detox.”

The message is clear: You can't biohack blind.

A better path forward

Supplements can play a valuable role—especially when used to correct deficiencies, support specific pathways, or assist recovery. But they are not benign. And the wellness industry’s “more is better” narrative has led too many people down a risky path of trial and error, with their liver, hormones, or wallet paying the price.

Instead of guessing, test.

Instead of influencer advice, use medical-grade data.

And instead of fearing medication, understand that both supplements and pharmaceuticals are tools—neither inherently good nor bad, but powerful depending on the context.

If you’re using supplements regularly, it’s worth asking:

Do I know my baseline?
Have I retested to see if the supplement is working?
Could I be doing harm by overloading a pathway or organ?

True longevity doesn’t come from more products. It comes from precision, restraint, and personalised decisions.

We’re watching the increasing trend of supplement-linked adverse events in Australia closely. As supplement use rises, so too does the need for testing, transparency, and personalised data before reaching for the next pill or powder. Let’s turn wellness into something truly evidence-based and that you can understand.

As with anything you put in your body, it’s important to speak with your primary healthcare provider before starting a new supplement — especially if you’re pregnant, managing a medical condition, or taking prescription medications. Even nutrients that seem harmless can interact with other treatments or impact your health in unexpected ways. Personalised advice, based on your medical history and test results, is always the safest way forward.

For a deeper understanding of the risks associated with vitamin B6 overconsumption, you might find the following report insightful:

Supplements: The Untold Risks Behind the Wellness Hype