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You reach into your pantry for a bottle of vitamin D. Then get some fish oil capsules from the fridge. Gulp! What's a little fish burp for a healthier brain, right? But then you see the headline: Studies link vitamin D, fish oil and glucosamine to cognitive decline in older adults. Say what?

Doctors tout the benefits of vitamin D for strong bones, fish oil for a healthy heart and glucosamine for joint health. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil have also been recommended for keeping the brain—the fattiest organ in the body—in top shape.

Before you clear out your medicine cabinet, pause to consider the facts. David Madigan, a professor at Northeastern University's Khoury College of Computer Sciences, and Carmen Sceppa, dean of its Bouvé College of Health Sciences, share their insights along with other experts.

"It's always best to get the nutrients from foods," Sceppa said. They provide a balanced mix of nutrients.

However, supplements can be a godsend for vegans and people with conditions that interfere with nutrient absorption, Sceppa explained.

Besides, salmon or canned sardines—a source of omega-3s—are an acquired taste. And while vitamin D is produced by the body, sunshine is a required factor—a tall order during a Boston winter . Past data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a federal research agency, found nearly 1 in 4 Americans had inadequate or deficient levels of vitamin D.

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