[saiya-jin]

There are tons of edge cases where taking some supplements are much better than not taking them. Your argument about some gladiator is a laughable one - who knows what they ate 2000 years ago, what their actual health was? They needed to fight and often die, nobody cared if they have a healthy retirement.

I personally take multivitamin supplements, but the key to me is moderation - half a tablet on workout day, which has all the vitamins in 50% daily dose, and range of minerals of 15% daily dose, drank with lunch. No crazy doses of something specific. It helps with regeneration of muscles, joints and whatnot. Actually, my teeth got measurably harder according to my dentist after I started this regime.

The thing is, I work out these days 5x pretty hard during work week (weights, various running/cardio/intervals), mostly 1x climbing session on the evening, and 1-2 multihour hikes with 5-15kg backpack over weekend (or something similar). Those advices of daily dosages are for people smaller than me (188cm, 93kg), doing fraction of exercises compared to me. Could I do all of this without any supplement? Of course. But so far I haven't heard any solid reason why, because it measurably helps in many aspects of my health and wellbeing.

[Tor3]

> 'who knows that they ate 2000 years ago, what their actual health was?'

That's not so difficult as you think. What you eat is preserved in your teeth and bone. See https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-did-gladiators-ea... As for what their health was - again, you can find out a lot from bones. And, as you said, they needed to fight. You don't do that for very long without a certain level of health.

When you describe your exercise regime you seem to assume that more exercise == higher doses (of trace elements) needed. But that's the thing: For nearly all of the common trace elements, it doesn't change. Of course it varies with weight - there's a difference between a 45kg small woman and a 100kg man. Probably. But your size and weight is well inside the general and means very little in this respect.

[saiya-jin]

If I am 15-20% heavier than average human, then getting extra 15% of minerals with supplements sounds like a good idea to actually meet daily requirements. You make claims that we are all OK and shouldn't take anything, but you have no clue what I eat, how much, or what are specifics of my body - that's not very scientific statement. I still haven't seen anything scientific stating that 15% extra intake in most common minerals should bring anything but benefits.

What minerals can be used for - Mg for preventing muscle cramps (scientifically and practically proven), Fe for altitude acclimatization (more red blood cells to transport oxygen), Ca for teeth and bones. Its proven that weightlifting makes your bones denser/thicker, so I supply my body with a bit of extra of material.

As for Vitamins, water-soluble will be washed away (and its always good to have a bit extra of vitamin C), and the fat-soluble are actually less than recommended doses last time I checked (particularly Vitamin D, and as said I take 1/2 of it).

What I consider important is to take it with big meal which contains tons of stuff - especially fats and some fiber. That way body has a more gradual intake of these, and stays in stomach/intestines for longer.

[ntsplnkv2]

What are the measurements, then?

How do we know that none of this is placebo.