Dietary supplements can range from essential vitamins and minerals to amino acids, herbs, enzymes and even animal extracts. People take supplements to enhance their health, build strength, treat illnesses or for some other perceived benefit. Some supplements have a long history of use in both traditional medicine and by modern health practitioners, while others are newer to the market and less well known. Before taking any supplement, you should research the ingredients and talk with your doctor, especially if you're taking any prescription medications or have any health problems.
Standards for Supplements
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, reviews supplements, but the review is limited to verifying that the supplements contain what they say they contain, and testing the safety of various ingredients. The FDA doesn't verify that the supplements are effective, or that they do what they say they can do. The FDA has the power to ask supplement manufacturers to change labeling if they feel the label is false or misleading, and they can take a supplement off the market if they think it's dangerous. But usually, this requires reports of illnesses or even deaths linked to the supplements before the FDA takes action. The FDA doesn't require testing or trials for supplements as they do for medications, though people sometimes use supplements as medications.
Risks
When taking any supplement, you run certain risks. You could have an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients in the supplement, especially if it's something you haven't taken before. The ingredients in a supplement could react with other medication you're taking, rendering the medication less effective, or enhancing the effect. For instance, if you're taking the blood thinner warfarin, you shouldn't take vitamins C, K or E because these could cause serious bleeding. You can overdose on certain supplements, especially fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamin A. Supplements that contain caffeine can cause agitation and high blood pressure. Some herbs, such as kava kava, can cause liver damage. Don't combine supplements and medication, or take a new supplement, without first consulting your doctor.
Vitamins and Minerals
The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine has established Dietary Reference Intakes, or DRIs, for a number of vitamins and minerals you need for good health. These are the minimum amounts of these nutrients most people need daily. The best way to get these nutrients is from a varied, balanced diet, but some people might have trouble getting enough of some essential vitamins and minerals. People with gastrointestinal diseases might have trouble absorbing some minerals; older adults often have trouble metabolizing vitamin B-12 from food; vegetarians might need additional iron, calcium or B vitamins; and some people need extra vitamin D or calcium. Your doctor can recommend what vitamins and minerals to take and how much.
Making Smart Choices
When shopping for supplements, read the labels carefully. Be wary of products that make extravagant claims, such as curing disease, dramatic weight loss, or that claim to treat a wide variety of symptoms. No product should claim to be completely safe or without side effects, as almost any substance can have side effects if used incorrectly. Research ingredients. Follow directions carefully, and don't double up on doses. Don't combine supplements with medication. Consult your doctor or a pharmacist if you have questions about supplements.
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