Supplements: nutrition in a pill?

From "Dietary Guidelines for Americans", p48

A fundamental premise of the Dietary Guidelines is that nutrients should come primarily from foods. Foods in nutrient-dense, mostly intact forms contain not only the essential vitamins and minerals that are often contained in nutrient supplements, but also dietary fiber and other naturally occurring substances that may have positive health effects. 

  

Americans should aim to meet their nutrient requirements through a healthy eating pattern that includes nutrient-dense forms of foods, while balancing calorie intake with energy expenditure.

 

whole food vs supplement:

Greater nutrition, especially micronutrients

Essential fiber

Protective substances, eg phytochemicals


Who needs supplements:

pregnant: folic acid, iron

50 or older: vitamin B-12

65 or older: vitamin D to reduce risk of fall

vegan

who doesn't take 2 to 3 meals of fish weekly

mayoclinic

Dietary Guideline

when compared with dietary recommended intake