Dietary Supplements
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Are you curious about dietary supplements? Do you know which supplements are safe and which supplements could actually create more health problems and possibly even death? Do you know which supplements you should avoid if you are taking blood-thinners or antidepressants? The government does not regulate dietary supplements as they do with prescription drugs. When it comes to herbs and other over-the counter supplements, it is pretty much just up to you to figure it all out. There are a lot web sites about dietary supplements, most of them are trying to sell you something, some of them do not provide useful or correct information. This website features articles written from research about dietary supplements. Each article will have a list of resources used at the end so you can go straight to the source and read the original research for yourself. I am not promoting or selling any kind of dietary supplement on this web site. It is a web site of sharing information I learn personally and will be using personally as I decide upon which dietary supplements, if any, I want to use.
Important Advice: Always consult with a health care professional before using any information you find or before adding dietary supplements to your daily diet. This is especially important for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, chronically ill, the elderly, under 18, taking prescription or over-the-counter medicines. Certain supplements can boost blood levels of certain drugs to dangerous levels.
Dietary supplements are some of the hottest selling items available today. More than half of the The 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act set up a new framework for FDA regulation of dietary supplements as well as setting up an office in the National Institutes of Health to coordinate research. The law requires manufacturers to provide a product label detailing the ingredients. The FDA’s requirement for pre-market review of dietary supplements is less than that over other products it regulates such as drugs and many additives used in conventional foods. Consumers and manufacturers have the responsibility for checking the safety of dietary supplements and determining the truthfulness of label claims.
How can you identify a supplement?
· Tablets, capsules, powders, soft gels, gel caps and liquids Where can you purchase? · Grocery stores, drug and national discount chain stores, mail-order catalogs, TV programs, the internet and direct sales What role does the FDA play? · The FDA oversees safety, manufacturing and production information, such as claims, in a product’s labeling, package inserts, and accompanying information.
The one thing dietary supplements are not is “drugs.” Here is where the major difference lies between dietary supplements and drugs. Drugs must undergo clinical studies to determine effectiveness, safety, possible interactions with other substances, and appropriate dosages. The FDA must review the data and authorize the drugs’ use before they go onto the market. The FDA does not authorize or test dietary supplements. Fraudulent products are products that don’t do what they say; they can or don’t contain ingredients they say they contain, and can be a waste of consumers’ money. They may also cause physical harm.
Source: Kurtzweil P. An FDA guide to dietary supplements.. FDA Consumer [serial online]. September 1998;32(5):28. Available from: Health Source - Consumer Edition,
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Always keep in mind that eating the right kind of food is the best way to ensure you get all the vitamins and minerals you need every day.
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Other Sources of Reliable Dietary Supplement Information
Supplements Associated with Illness and Injuries
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Anatomy of the Requirements for Dietary Supplement Labels
Copyright July 2008 All Rights Reserved Connie Limon