Deficiencies in our distant evolutionary past which were corrected for by evolution hardly affect modern humans.
Clothing has been worn for at least 10,000 years. So, that, too, is hardly a factor with modern humans—it’s part of our evolutionary picture, as is eating cooked food.
Pill-popping, otoh, has only been around for a few decades. Obviously, the human race survived this long without it. I could see how pill popping would have an effect on our evolution—where our bodies would increase efficiency of ridding ourselves of these excesses of chemicals, to the point where it would be impossible to maintain physiologically healthy levels of vitamins and minerals without popping supplements. But we have not reached that point yet. Medical disorders aside, either you are getting enough of the necessary vitamins and minerals in a healthy, balanced diet, or you’re eating an unbalanced diet that no amount of pill popping is going to rescue.
It is incredibly difficult to find pure information about vitamins and minerals; almost all of the information touting their health benefits is published by supplement manufacturers. They’re not exactly an unbiased source.
The point is that recent cultural changes have rendered those "corrections" inadequate. As recently as 75 years ago, MOST of the population spent most of their time outdoors, and they were consuming very large amounts of food due the the needs of high physical labor. That is no longer the case.
"Clothing has been worn for at least 10,000 years. So, that, too, is hardly a factor with modern humans—it’s part of our evolutionary picture, as is eating cooked food."
And you know that 10,000 years is enough to correct the Vitamin D deficiency?? I don't think so.
"Pill-popping, otoh, has only been around for a few decades. Obviously, the human race survived this long without it."
Mere survival vs. optimal health are two totally different things.
"I could see how pill popping would have an effect on our evolution—where our bodies would increase efficiency of ridding ourselves of these excesses of chemicals, to the point where it would be impossible to maintain physiologically healthy levels of vitamins and minerals without popping supplements. But we have not reached that point yet."
Ridiculous. We don't even know what "physiologically healthy" levels ARE.
"Medical disorders aside, either you are getting enough of the necessary vitamins and minerals in a healthy, balanced diet, or you’re eating an unbalanced diet that no amount of pill popping is going to rescue."
Completely ridiculous. The decision to add Vitamin D to foods to prevent rickets says that most people CANNOT get enough in their diets.
I eat a reasonably healthy diet, but lifestyle, work, and the "beautiful weather" in the Pacific Northwest keeps me indoors most of the time, so I do NOT get much sunlight. My blood tests show that my free Vitamin D levels are at the bitter low end of the statistical range of normal, and that is WITH taking 2000 IU/day of supplements.
As a chemist, I "do" understand about peer-reviewed literature, and the evidence to be found there is convincing to ME (along with the above blood tests), at any rate, that supplementation is desirable in my case. And my physician agrees with me.