Social media supplements

Social media has had a significant influence on our health. It can inspire us to exercise more, eat healthier foods, and inform us of ways to improve our general health.

One of the ways we can improve our health is through supplements. Different supplements do different things, and knowing which supplements to ask your NHS chemist for can help to improve your health.

We’ve looked into some of the most popular supplements to see which ones are currently the most talked about, using Google searches and TikTok data to reveal the supplements on the surge.

Ashwagandha is the most searched-for supplement, with over 2 million searches in the UK over the last year

Supplements can be helpful for several reasons, whether you want to improve energy levels, athletic performance, or overall health. We’ve created a comprehensive list of common supplements to determine which is the most popular.

1. Ashwagandha – 2,109,500 Google searches

The most searched-for supplement is Ashwagandha, with over 2 million Google searches over the last 12 months. Ashwagandha is a herbal supplement from India. It’s believed to help with stress by reducing levels of cortisol. However, it has other purposes, such as reducing fatigue and improving concentration and libido. Ashwagandha is also believed to increase muscle mass and physical endurance, which makes it a popular choice among bodybuilders and athletes.

2. Creatine – 1,726,000 Google searches

In second is Creatine, with over 1.7 million Google searches over the last 12 months. Creatine is a chemical that is naturally found in the body. It’s found explicitly in muscle cells, as it helps them to produce energy during exercise, such as weight lifting or running. Due to its similarities with amino acids, Creatine is particularly popular among bodybuilders, as it can help to increase muscle mass and improve strength. 

3. Vitamin B12 – 1,206,000 Google searches

Completing our top three is Vitamin B12 with 1.2 million Google searches over the previous year. Vitamin B12 is a cobalamin found in meat, fish, and dairy products, and is involved in metabolism. It’s also used as a cofactor in DNA synthesis, and helps to keep your blood and nerve cells healthy. A lack of Vitamin B12 can cause extreme tiredness and a lack of energy, mouth ulcers, and disturbed vision.

Google searches for rosemary oil have increased by 309%, more than any other supplement

We wanted to find out which supplements have surged in popularity over the last year, so we used Google search data to calculate the increase in searches for each supplement.

1. Rosemary Oil – 309% increase in Google searches

Rosemary Oil is believed to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties when massaged into the affected area. However, its benefits to your hair are likely what caused a surge in the oil’s popularity. Rosemary Oil is believed to assist in hair growth and protect against hair loss for both male and female pattern baldness. It can also help with scalp itchiness and add shine to your hair. Rosemary Oil takes the top spot with searches increasing by more than 300% over the last year.

2. Magnesium Glycinate/Tongkat Ali – 234% increase in Google searches

Second place is shared by two supplements, Magnesium Glycinate and Tongkat Ali, both with a 234% increase in Google searches over the last year. Magnesium Glycinate is a macro-mineral that the body requires in large amounts. It’s usually found in leafy vegetables, whole grains, and dairy products like yoghurt and milk. Magnesium Glycinate can help with high blood pressure, migraines, and sleep quality.

Tongkat Ali is a herbal supplement known to improve low testosterone levels, male fertility, and athletic performance. It’s made from the root of a plant called longjack, which is native to Southeast Asia, and was an ingredient in many traditional Southeast Asian practices of medicines. Tongkat Ali is also believed to lower cortisol levels, which could help with stress.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar – 83% increase in Google Searches

In fourth place is Apple Cider Vinegar, with an 83% year-on-year increase in Google searches. Apple Cider Vinegar was originally, and still is, used as a marinade or a dressing for salads. However, its nutritional benefits have turned it into a popular supplement. Apple Cider Vinegar supposedly helps with weight loss, preventing type 2 diabetes, and has even been used as an antibiotic.

Magnesium glycinate and rice water are trending more than any supplement on TikTok, with a TikTok trends score of 100

There are several reasons why a supplement could be trending. It could be mentioned in a song or a film, promoted by someone famous, or even help with an issue many people face. That’s why we analyzed TikTok trends data to find out which supplements are the most popular right now.

1. Magnesium Glycinate/Rice Water – 100 TikTok Trends score

Magnesium Glycinate and Rice Water share the top spot with a perfect TikTok trends score of 100/100. This is the second time Magnesium Glycinate has been featured in one of our top threes, proving its popularity. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency can include vomiting, nausea, and muscle cramps.

Rice Water is the water left over from cooking or soaking rice. As peculiar as it may sound, the starchy water left behind is believed to be good for your hair and skin. Rice Water makes your hair shiny, and amino acids and antioxidants are supposed to help with hair growth. It’s also believed to help to promote skin health.

3. Silica – 98 TikTok Trends score 

In third place is Silica, with a TikTok trends score of 98. Silica is a natural chemical compound found in rocks and sand. However, it can also be found in rice, whole grains, and cucumbers. As a supplement, it’s believed to assist in Collagen production, an essential protein in skin, hair, and nails. Silica can also be good for heart health and bone formation.

4. Creatine – 97 TikTok Trends score 

In fourth place is Creatine with a TikTok trends score of 97. Creatine can be found in food, such as red meat and fish. The recommended daily allowance for Creatine as a supplement is between 3g and 5g, alternatively, 1lb of raw beef or salmon provides 1g/2g of Creatine.

Apple Cider Vinegar is on the rise, with almost 90% of views over the last year occurring in the last three months

We’ve worked out the supplements on the rise by working out the percentage of views over the last 12 months that happened during the last three months.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar – 88.89% of total views in the last 12 months occurred in the last three months

Apple Cider Vinegar has surged in popularity, with almost 90% of the total views during the last year occurring in the last three months. Over the last 12 months, there were 99 million views for videos with Apple Cider Vinegar hashtagged, and 88 million of these views came in the last quarter. As well as weight loss, Apple Cider Vinegar is believed to prevent dandruff and acne.

Apple Cider Vinegar supposedly helps with weight loss, preventing type 2 diabetes, and is even sold in gummy form.

2. Biotin – 76.92% of total views in the last 12 months occurred in the last three months

Biotin takes second place, with over three-quarters of the total views in the last 12 months occurring in the last three months. Biotin, or vitamin B7, is found in foods such as eggs and milk and is responsible for a wide range of metabolic processes that involve utilizing the fats, amino acids, and carbohydrates in our body. Biotin deficiency can cause hair thinning and a rash on the face, similar to the kind of rash caused by Zinc deficiency.

3. Vitamin A – 60% of total views in the last 12 months occurred in the last three months

Vitamin A is a key vitamin that is naturally found in many foods, such as leafy green vegetables, milk, and eggs. It aids the immune system, growth and development, and normal vision whilst also contributing to the normal functioning of your organs. A deficiency of Vitamin A can cause vision loss and blindness and leave you more prone to illness. However, studies also show that having too much Vitamin A can cause your bones to be more likely to fracture when you’re older. Vitamin A completes our top three, with 60% of the total views in the last 12 months occurring in the last three months.

Collagen is the most viewed supplement on TikTok, with 3.5 billion views

TikTok can be a valuable source of information or inspiration for supplements. Seeing someone else’s experiences can be reassuring when considering any side effects or if you are unsure what to expect. For this reason, we’ve looked at the supplements with the most views on TikTok.

1. Collagen – 3.5 billion TikTok views

The most viewed supplement on TikTok is Collagen, with 3.5 billion views. Collagen is a protein produced by the body which plays a vital role in the structure and function of skin, bones, and connective tissues. A Collagen deficiency can result in papery skin, joint pain, and stiff ligaments. However, these symptoms are likely to occur with old age as your body produces less Collagen as you get older. Collagen is a particularly popular supplement as it’s a crucial building block for skin elasticity and resilience, which can make you appear more youthful.

2. Creatine – 3 billion TikTok views

With its final appearance in one of our top threes, Creatine takes second place with three billion TikTok views. Creatine, specifically Creatine Monohydrate, is one of the most studied supplements. While it has its benefits, especially for athletes, there are some potential side effects. Creatine alters your body’s stored water content, which can cause weight gain, while kidney and liver damage are also possible.

3. Rosemary Oil – 1.8 billion TikTok views

Rosemary Oil completes our top three with 1.8 billion TikTok views. As well as the potential benefits for hair, there is a suggestion that Rosemary Oil can improve brain function. In ancient Greece and Rome, rosemary was thought to enhance memory, and there is even research to suggest that inhaling Rosemary Oil can prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a crucial chemical for concentration and memory.

Methodology

We created a seeding list of popular supplements from articles.

We then used Google Keyword Planner to find the year-on-year percentage increase and total searches over the last 12 months (June 2022 – July 2023). Figures show searches from the UK.

We then used Google Trends to find the trends score for each supplement. Figures show the trends score for the dates 09.07.2023 – 15.07.2023.

We then used TikTok to find the number of views for each supplement.

We then used TikTok’s creative centre to find the percentage of views that came in the last three months, compared to the previous 12 months, as well as the TikTok Trends score, which shows the score for the dates 09.07.2023 – 15.07.2023. The trends score was compared to the last 12 months.

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