17.02.2020 Marketing and PR
Dietary Supplements. How to Distinguish Information from Marketing
Ewa Zygadło-Kozaczuk

What is supplementation? Do I need it? If so, what vitamins, trace elements, or other substances does my body need? What about my child’s needs? Or my friend’s, who is very active in sports?
The initial conclusions drawn from these questions are as follows:
- supplementation should be individualized, following consultation with a specialist,
- incorrectly chosen supplements may lead to additional health problems, especially for people who take medication regularly or those who consume too many supplements at high doses,
- use dietary supplements wisely only when needed, or avoid them entirely if they may negatively impact your health.
How can we practically apply these recommendations? This is no easy task, especially as we are constantly bombarded by ads for miracle products for weight loss, better sleep, well-being, good digestion, and many other conditions.
Let’s try to navigate through this maze of marketing messages and find reliable information about dietary supplements. What should we know to use these products safely? This brings up several important questions:
- Is a given dietary supplement approved for use in Poland?
- Does the manufacturer meet the standards that guarantee product quality?
- Is the chosen supplement safe for me, and is its use beneficial?
We can answer the first question by consulting the Main Sanitary Inspectorate register. In the register, we’ll find basic information about dietary supplements, such as the product name, form, qualitative composition, the name of the entity that markets the supplement, GIS’s administrative decisions, and additional notes (e.g., if the product is banned from sale).
Consulting the register thus allows us to take the first important step: determining whether a supplement is legally on the Polish market.
The answer to the second question about the manufacturer and product quality is more complicated. The GIS register will tell us who the manufacturer is, but we won’t know whether the product quality is satisfactory or if product x or y with a similar composition is preferable.
To help answer these questions, there is the Suplindex – dietary supplements service. It is the first information and educational program in Poland that organizes the dietary supplement market based on current knowledge. Although the materials on the site are provided by dietary supplement manufacturers, they contain valuable information that is difficult to find on other platforms.
All products listed in the Suplindex catalog have been submitted to the Main Sanitary Inspectorate and successfully completed the notification process. This means they are approved for sale in Poland. They are marked as follows:

Another key piece of information in Suplindex is whether the dietary supplement was produced according to a safety standard. The manufacturer must prove that additional, non-mandatory safety standards were implemented during production and distribution. The "Confirmed Manufacturing Standard" mark is based on voluntary certification undergone by the manufacturer, and the quality and value of documents are verified by Suplindex specialists:

The last, very important label that may appear with dietary supplements in the Suplindex catalog is the “supplement with research” designation:

This label helps consumers assess product quality. The manufacturer has subjected the product to independent testing and implemented quality standards that confirm the composition aligns with the values declared on the packaging. The tests must be conducted by independent, accredited laboratories to confirm the supplement’s safety.
One downside of Suplindex is that not all supplements available on the Polish market and listed in the GIS register are included in the catalog. This is because not all manufacturers choose to include their supplements in the catalog and undergo verification. However, those who do gain credibility.

Besides Suplindex, information about supplements, their quality, and uses can also be obtained in pharmacies. This is especially relevant for manufacturers who have been on the market for years and prioritize educating pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, providing them with detailed information on supplement composition, quality, and dosage.
Speaking of pharmacists, we would also like to mention the blog by Zosia Winczewska and her mini guide on the most commonly used supplements. The content in this guide is written in an accessible way, and its practical tips help users choose the right dietary supplement.
By relying on the knowledge of pharmacists, doctors, and other specialists, we can therefore answer the third question posed in this article: Is the selected dietary supplement safe for me, and is its use beneficial?
Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive source of information in Poland on supplementation and dietary supplements available in pharmacies and beyond. No portals are dedicated to supplement safety where we could find complete information about these products - from registration to testing and safe use. Information about dietary supplements often mixes with advertising, and we constantly hear advice about the importance of supplementation.
Therefore, the sources of information mentioned in this article are only guideposts through the maze of advertising and sponsored content. We hope they help to somewhat organize the information chaos, and that equipped with knowledge from the GIS register, Suplindex, and Zosia Winczewska’s blog, we will have a clearer view of the need to purchase a dietary supplement or decide to skip another "miracle product." At the same time, it would be wise to reevaluate our diet, increase physical activity, reduce stress, and spend more time with family and friends. Then we might find that no supplementation is needed at all.
Also read:
COMMERCIAL BREAK
New articles in section Marketing and PR
Trends and threats in online advertising. Media Quality Report 2025
Krzysztof Fiedorek
In 2024, the digital advertising world lost about 100 billion dollars due to fake impressions. A report published by Integral Ad Science shows that so-called fraud is getting smarter, and campaigns are increasingly exposed.
SEO and AI in Polish e-commerce 2025. Harbingers analysts’ report
Krzysztof Fiedorek
Although 44.56% of e-commerce traffic comes from organic results, over half of online stores are not seeing growth. The biggest surprise? A staggering 9.5 million monthly visits lost due to dead content. On top of that, 38% of companies still don’t appear in AI-generated answers - a new and growing source of visibility.
AI or human? Data on customer preferences in the US, UK, and Canada
KFi
One in three consumers prefers talking to a bot rather than a human, and as many as 86% try to solve the problem on their own first. Still, 74% prefer to call when an issue is urgent. A new report from Five9 shows just how much customer service expectations have changed.
See articles on a similar topic:
Internet Subscriptions: Market Value, Development Trends, and... Risks
KrzysztoF
According to McKinsey & Company, the number of subscription users globally has increased by over 17% in the past year. A report from UBS Group AG indicates that the total value of the global subscription market will reach as much as $1.5 trillion by 2025. This is twice as much as in 2020!
Child with dyslexia. A therapist's guide for parents
patronat Reporterzy.info
Dyslexia is a specific developmental disorder affecting reading and writing abilities. It can significantly impact a child's educational and emotional development. In Poland, as well as worldwide, it is being diagnosed more frequently. [#MAMYNATORADĘ under the patronage of Reporterzy.info]
Short Social Video. IAB Poland Report on Short Videos in Social Media
Krzysztof Fiedorek
According to the IAB Poland report from May 2024, short video clips are becoming increasingly popular in Poland. In 2023, 61% of internet users in Poland watched the format known as short social video, and 23% of them created such videos themselves. Polish internet users spend an average of 43 minutes a day watching them.
When a Review Lies. The Growing Threat of Fake Opinions Online
KFi
Popularity of digital marketplaces rises, so does a less welcome trend: fake reviews. These manipulated opinions distort product rankings and mislead consumers, all while unfairly disadvantaging honest businesses. And despite regulatory efforts, the problem is far from solved.