Our essential Swiss dietary supplements

A food supplement is there to complement your diet when a nutrient falls short: vitamin D in winter, vitamin B12 on a vegan diet, iron for a confirmed deficiency, magnesium during periods of intense effort. Under Swiss law, supplements are foodstuffs, not medicines: they do not cure any disease.

The best dietary supplement is the one that meets a genuine need, ideally confirmed by a blood test. The most useful according to research: vitamin D (immune function), magnesium (tiredness, muscle function), omega-3 EPA/DHA (heart function from 250 mg per day) and vitamin B12 for people on a vegan diet.

Yes, provided they meet a genuine need: supplements are useful for a confirmed deficiency, increased requirements (pregnancy, intense sport, vegan diet) or insufficient intake, such as vitamin D in winter. Taking them “just in case”, every day and without a clear goal, has no demonstrated benefit.

Yes, you can combine several food supplements, as long as you stay within the maximum doses per nutrient set by Swiss law — watch out for duplicates between a multivitamin and a single-nutrient product. Some combinations work well together (magnesium and vitamin B6); others interfere: calcium limits iron absorption. When in doubt, ask a pharmacist.

Three nutrients carry the authorised claim “contributes to the maintenance of normal hair”: biotin (vitamin B8), zinc and selenium. Significant or sudden hair loss warrants medical advice: it can reveal an iron deficiency or a hormonal imbalance that no supplement will fix on its own.

For the skin, authorised claims cover zinc, biotin, niacin (B3) and iodine — “contributes to the maintenance of normal skin” — plus vitamin C, which contributes to normal collagen formation. Collagen powder itself shows promising research but has no authorised claim to date. Hydration and sun protection remain the foundation.

Four nutrients carry the authorised claim “contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue”: magnesium, iron, vitamin C and the B vitamins (including B2, B6, B9 and B12). Persistent fatigue deserves a medical check-up first: it can signal an iron deficiency or a thyroid disorder.

No food supplement causes weight loss on its own: a caloric deficit remains the basis, and no large-scale study shows otherwise. Whey protein can support satiety and lean-mass preservation during a supervised programme. Be wary of products promising rapid results — such claims are prohibited in Switzerland.

A supplement compliant with Swiss law is not dangerous at the indicated doses. The real risks: overdosing (vitamin A, iron, mineral salts), interactions with prescription medicines, and non-compliant products bought from foreign websites. In Switzerland, the FDHA Ordinance sets maximum doses per nutrient, supervised by the FSVO.

Most food supplements are taken with a meal and a glass of water: fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and omega-3 are better absorbed with fat. Magnesium can be split between morning and evening; iron is best taken away from meals. Always respect the daily dose on the label.

No: basic Swiss health insurance (LAMal/KVG) does not reimburse food supplements, as they are foodstuffs rather than medicines. Some supplementary insurance plans contribute through their prevention programmes. The only exceptions are prescribed vitamin preparations with medicinal status listed on the Swiss specialities list.

Swiss dietary supplements are available in pharmacies, drugstores or directly online from a Swiss brand such as SwiLab, whose supplements are produced in a Swiss laboratory under the FDHA Ordinance on Food Supplements — delivered across Switzerland, with free shipping from 99 CHF. Buying Swiss guarantees compliant labelling and local customer service.