Safety Of Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements are products such as vitamins and herbs that come in forms such as pills and powders. Using a dietary supplement might help you stay healthy in some cases, but they aren't always necessary and some might even be harmful, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. Trying to make sense of all the bottles and labels at the grocery store can be tricky if you don't know what to avoid.

Fewer Regulations

The FDA must take steps to prove that drugs are safe and effective before the drugs can go out on the market. However, dietary supplements aren't regulated as strictly unless they contain a new dietary ingredient. Each dietary supplement's manufacturer is responsible for making sure that its product is safe and that the claims made about the supplement aren't misleading. However, the firm isn't obligated to provide the FDA with any evidence it uses to prove that its product is safe and effective. Once the product is in the marketplace, the manufacturer must take any reports of side effects to the FDA for further investigation. The FDA can remove the product from store shelves if it has enough evidence to back up the claims.

Safety and Benefits

Many dietary supplements have never been linked to serious health effects. For instance, millions of people in the United States take multivitamins on a regular basis without ever experiencing negative side effects. Furthermore, many dietary supplements have been backed by research that supports their efficacy. For example, pregnant women or women who might become pregnant are less likely to have a baby with birth defects if they take folic acid supplements.

Potential Risks

Some dietary supplements might be dangerous in and of themselves. Examples of dietary supplements that might pose risks to all people and can get pulled from shelves include supplements that don't actually contain an ingredient listed on their labels, supplements that don't contain the same amount of an ingredient as they claim to contain and supplements contaminated by toxins such as heavy metals and pesticides. Other dietary supplements might be harmful for certain populations. For instance, Ginkgo biloba can increase your risk of bleeding if you take anti-platelet or anti-coagulant drugs, and St. John's wort can interfere with drugs that treat HIV, depression and cancer, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Before You Buy

Talk to your doctor about any supplement you're curious about taking. She can help you reduce your risk of negative interactions with drugs or present health conditions. She might also offer you advice on distinguishing trustworthy from untrustworthy dietary supplement claims. For example, false claims are likely to be full of hype and usually seem too good to be true. If you believe you have a medical condition, but it hasn't been formally diagnosed, abstain from taking any supplements in lieu of therapy or medication and make sure your doctor is aware of your condition.

When You Experience Side Effects

Stop taking any dietary supplement if you begin experiencing health problems after taking it. Tell your doctor about what's happening as soon as possible and submit a report with help from the FDA's MedWatch Reporting Program. Taking part in ensuring a product's safety might help prevent others from experiencing the same ill effects.