Caroline wrote:

<<What, if anything, do most people feel is the most necessary and
 how do non-supplementers ensure they get a good balance? >>

Everyone has different needs.  Some people do not assimilate one vitamin as
well as they might another.  This would mean that they would need to
supplement with that particular nutrient.

If you are looking for an overall generic group of supplements, I'd vote for
the antioxidant group mentioned before (I believe someone said C, E, as well
as B12) and add B1 (over 50% of the population is deficient in this
vitamin), CoQ10 (plays critical roles in the production of energy within the
mitochondria and helps with the production of ATP), and major and trace
minerals.  The minerals help with all nutrient assimilation, including those
in your food. I've had little faith in the quantity of necessary nutrients
in food for quite a while now.

Siobhan