In the United States, many adults and kids use one or more vitamins or other nutritional supplements. Dietary supplements can also include minerals, herbs, other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and a variety of other components in addition to vitamins. Dietary supplements are available in many different formats, such as pills, capsules, candies, powders, beverages, and energy bars. Vitamins D and B12, minerals like calcium and iron, herbs like echinacea and garlic, and goods like glucosamine, probiotics, and fish oils are all common supplements.
The Label for Dietary Supplements
A Supplement Facts label is attached to products sold as dietary supplements and lists the active components, the dosage per serving, and other substances including fillers, binders, and flavors. The serving size is what the manufacturer recommends, but your doctor may determine that a different amount is more suitable for you.
Effectiveness
If you don’t eat a range of nutrient-dense meals, some oxandrolone dietary supplements may be able to help you acquire enough of the critical elements you need. However, dietary supplements cannot replace the diversity of foods that make up an ideal diet. The Dietary Guidelines for Americansexternal link disclaimer and MyPlateexternal link disclaimer are reliable resources for information on what constitutes a healthy diet.
Various dietary supplements can help control some illnesses and enhance general health. For instance:
- Vitamin D and calcium prevent bone loss and maintain bone strength.
- Certain birth abnormalities are less likely to occur thanks to folic acid.
- Some persons with heart disease can benefit from omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils.
- A supplement known as AREDS, which contains zinc, copper, lutein, and zeaxanthin, may help people with age-related macular degeneration prevent future vision loss (AMD).
- To assess whether many other supplements are worthwhile, more research is required.
- Prior to marketing, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not evaluate the efficacy of dietary supplements.
Risk and Security
Active chemicals found in many supplements have potent physiological effects. Always be on the lookout for any adverse effects, especially while taking new medications.
The likelihood of experiencing negative effects from dietary supplements increases if you take them in large doses, in place of prescription medications, or if you take a variety of supplements. Some supplements, if taken prior to surgery, can alter how you react to anesthesia or raise the risk of bleeding. Some medications and supplements can combine in ways that could be problematic.
Here are a few illustrations:
Warfarin, a blood thinner, loses some of its efficacy to prevent blood clots when taken with vitamin K.
St. John’s wort has been shown to hasten the breakdown of numerous pharmaceuticals and decrease their efficacy (including some antidepressants, birth control pills, heart medications, anti-HIV medications, and transplant drugs).
Supplemental antioxidants like vitamins C and E may lessen the effectiveness of certain cancer treatment regimens.
Manufacturers may include vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements in food products, particularly in breakfast cereals and drinks. Therefore, you might receive more of these elements than you anticipated, and more may not necessarily be better. Overdosing costs more money and may increase your risk of experiencing negative side effects. For instance, excessive vitamin A intake can weaken bones, harm the liver, and result in birth abnormalities. In addition to causing nausea and vomiting, too much iron can harm the liver and other organs.
When taking dietary supplements while expecting or breastfeeding, exercise caution. Unless specifically advised by a child’s doctor, avoid offering supplements to children. For the safety of children, nursing mothers, or pregnant women, many supplements have not undergone enough testing.
Inform your doctor if you believe you experienced a negative side effect from a dietary supplement. He or she might inform the FDA about your experience.
You can also report something to the FDA directly by contacting them at 800-FDA-1088 or by filling out an online formexternal link disclaimer. Use the contact details on the product label to alert the manufacturer of your response.
Quality
Good manufacturing practices (GMPs) have been set forth by the FDA for businesses to adhere to in order to assist ensure the identification, purity, strength, and composition of their dietary supplements. These GMPs can lessen the possibility of product contamination and improper packing and labeling by preventing the addition of the incorrect ingredient (or too much or too little of the correct ingredient). The FDA conducts routine inspections of facilities that produce supplements.
The items that pass these tests can display a seal of quality assurance, which certifies that they were produced correctly, contain the contents specified on the label, and are free of unsafe levels of pollutants. Several independent organizations provide quality testing. These certifications do not assure the efficacy or safety of a product. The following businesses provide quality testing:
- ConsumerLab.com
- U.S. Pharmacopeia NSF International
Consult your medical professionals
Any dietary supplements you take should be disclosed to all of your health care professionals, including your doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and dietitians. They can assist you in deciding whether any supplements, if any, may be beneficial for you.
Keep a detailed record of all the medications and dietary supplements you consume. You can print and complete the “My Dietary Supplement and Medicine Record” form from the Office of Dietary Supplements website at home. Make a note of the brand, dosage, frequency of use, and purpose for each product. To discuss what is best for your general health, you can show your healthcare providers this record.
Don’t forget
Before using dietary supplements to treat a medical condition, speak with your doctor.
Before substituting or combining nutritional supplements with any prescribed medications, get your doctor’s consent.
Discuss any supplements you take with your healthcare professional if you are going to be having surgery of any kind.
Remember that “natural” doesn’t always imply safety. The liver can be harmed by several organic botanical products, notably comfrey and kava. The safety of a dietary supplement depends on a variety of factors, including its chemical composition, how it functions in the body, how it is manufactured, and the dosage you consume.
Use the resources indicated in this leaflet and consult your healthcare professionals to find the answers to the following questions prior to taking any dietary supplements:
- What possible advantages does it have for me?
- Are there any threats to your safety?
- What dosage should you use?
- I need to know when, how, and how long to take it.
The federal government controls dietary supplements
Products meant to augment the diet are known as dietary supplements. They are not meant to treat, diagnose, alleviate, prevent, or cure diseases and are not drugs. The FDA is the government agency in charge of regulating both dietary supplements and medications, but it has different rules for dietary supplements than it does for prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
Before they may be purchased or promoted, medicines need FDA approval. Supplements are exempt from this requirement. It is the responsibility of supplement manufacturers to have proof that their goods are secure and that any claims made on the label are accurate and not deceptive. However, the business is not required to provide this safety data to the FDA prior to the product’s marketing as long as it doesn’t contain a “novel dietary ingredient” (one introduced after October 15, 1994).
Certain forms of health claims may be seen on the labels of dietary supplements. Manufacturers are allowed to claim, for instance, that a supplement supports a physiological function or promotes health (like immunity or heart health). The phrase “This statement has not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration” must appear after these statements. No disease is intended to be diagnosed, treated, cured, or prevented by this product.
Good manufacturing practices (GMPs) are procedures that manufacturers must adhere to in order to guarantee the composition, identity, and purity of their products. If the FDA determines that a dietary supplement is dangerous, it may order the maker to voluntarily recall the product or remove it from the market.
The FDA keeps an eye on the market for potentially illegal goods that might be dangerous or make untrue or deceptive claims. The information provided about a supplement product must also be accurate and not deceptive, according to the Federal Trade Commission, which regulates product advertising.
When companies that offer dietary supplements make false or misleading claims about their goods, when they advertise those products as treatments or cures for illnesses, or when those products are hazardous, the federal government may take legal action against those businesses.
