The History of Dietary Supplements: How the World Wars Shaped the Modern Industry

The history of dietary supplements is a topic that interests athletes and nutrition researchers alike.

When we think of supplements today, we picture tubs of protein, creatine and vitamins filling the shelves of sports stores. Few people know that much of the progress in modern nutrition science came from challenges that armies faced during the World Wars.

The need to keep millions of soldiers healthy in harsh conditions pushed scientists to study nutrition as never before, and this later helped give rise to the supplement industry we know today.

The food crisis during the World Wars

During the First and Second World Wars, many countries struggled to supply food to their populations and soldiers.

These challenges included:

• Shortages of basic foods.
• Difficulty transporting food to the front lines.
• The need for meals with high nutritional value in a small size.
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies among soldiers.

Governments realised that military strength depends not only on weapons, but also on the health and physical and mental fitness of soldiers.

The start of scientific interest in vitamins

In the early twentieth century, scientists began discovering the essential vitamins, and the wars helped speed up research on them.

During the Second World War, many governments invested in nutrition research to understand how nutrient deficiencies affect the physical and mental performance of soldiers.

This led to:

• Better methods of producing vitamins industrially.
• The development of fortified foods.
• Vitamin supplements being included in some military programmes.

These developments later became the foundation of the modern multivitamin industry.

From military rations to dietary supplements

Armies faced an important challenge:

How can the most energy and nutrients be provided in the smallest possible weight and volume?

To answer this question, the following were developed:

• Concentrated foods.
• Protein powders.
• Meal replacements.
• Products fortified with vitamins and minerals.

Although these products did not resemble modern sports supplements, they laid the groundwork for the idea of concentrated, high-value nutrition.

How protein science developed after the war

After the Second World War ended, research continued on protein and its role in maintaining muscle mass.

In the 1950s and 1960s, athletes and bodybuilders began using this research to design diets that support athletic performance.

This is where the first commercial protein supplements appeared, before they later developed into:

• Whey protein concentrate
• Whey protein isolate
• Casein protein
• Beef protein

These are now among the most widely used supplements in the world.

How military research shaped sports performance

Military research focused on several key areas:

1. Improving energy and endurance

Researchers tried to understand how to keep soldiers supplied with energy over long periods, which later contributed to modern sports nutrition concepts.

2. Faster recovery

The role of protein and amino acids in muscle recovery after physical effort was studied.

3. Preserving muscle mass

Research helped explain the body’s protein needs during long periods of physical stress.

These concepts later became a foundation of the sports supplement industry.

From military laboratories to a multibillion-dollar industry

In recent decades, supplements have grown from niche products into a global industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

It now includes:

1. Protein.
2. Creatine.
3. Multivitamins.
4. Pre-workout energy supplements.
5. Muscle recovery supplements.
6. Hydration supplements.

The development of these products today relies on thousands of scientific studies and clinical trials.

Can supplements replace food?

Despite the industry’s huge growth, experts stress that supplements are designed to fill nutritional gaps, not to replace real food.

A balanced diet remains the main source of nutrients, while supplements are a practical way to support daily needs when necessary.

The bottom line

The supplement industry did not start directly because of the World Wars, but the wars played an important role in speeding up research on nutrition, vitamins and protein, which helped build the scientific foundations of the modern supplement industry.

Today, athletes around the world benefit from decades of research that began with the aim of improving soldiers’ health and performance, and has become a core part of modern sports nutrition.

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