Dietary supplements are more than the multitude of vitamins and minerals sold in stores. The category of dietary supplements also includes herbs and other substances meant to supplement your diet and promote health. While some dietary supplements are well researched and understood, others need further study, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. Talk to your doctor about the dietary supplements you take.
Definition
The definition of dietary supplements was established in 1994 when Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. The act defined dietary supplements as products containing dietary ingredients that may include vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, enzymes and certain other substances. Dietary supplements can be taken as tablets, capsules, soft gels, liquids, powders or bars, such as a meal replacement bar. Dietary supplements are categorized as foods by the FDA, but they are regulated differently than other foods and drugs. Dietary supplements don't have to go through the rigorous testing that drugs do, according to Medline Plus, a service of the National Institutes of Health.
Regulation
FDA regulations state that manufacturers are responsible for ensuring dietary supplements are safe before marketing them to the public; the FDA can only remove dietary supplements from the market if they're found to be unsafe after being sold to consumers. While pharmaceutical drugs are intended to treat, diagnose, prevent or cure a disease or health condition, dietary supplements cannot legally make those claims. The label may say that the dietary supplement addresses a nutritional deficiency, supports health or reduces the risk of developing a health problem, if that is true. However, it must include a disclaimer saying the claim has not been evaluated by the FDA.
Examples
Examples of dietary supplements include calcium supplements, multivitamins, prenatal vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and herbs such as echinacea, ginger, saw palmetto and St.-John's-wort. In a 2007 national survey of Americans regarding the use of dietary supplements other than vitamins and minerals, the most popular dietary supplements were fish oil, echinacea, flax seed and ginseng, reports the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM. An earlier survey of all types of dietary supplements found that multivitamins were the most popular dietary supplement used by Americans.
Caution
Although many dietary supplements come from natural sources, "natural" does not always mean "safe." The herbs comfrey and kava can be hazardous to the liver, the NCCAM warns. Additionally, what's on the label may not necessarily be the same as what is in the product. Dietary supplements may be contaminated with other herbs, pesticides or metals or even contain unlabeled prescription drugs, according to the NCCAM. The amount of active ingredient in the dietary supplement may also be higher or lower than what the label states. To protect your health, talk to your doctor before taking dietary supplements.
References
- Food and Drug Administration: Dietary Supplements -- What You Need to Know
- Food and Drug Administration: Overview of Dietary Supplements
- Medline Plus: Dietary Supplements
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Frequently Asked Questions
- National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine: Using Dietary Supplements Wisely
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