You may have heard of them, used them, or even recommended them to friends and relatives. While certain dietary supplements are well-known and well-researched, others require more research. Continue reading for crucial dietary supplement information for you and your family.

Dietary supplements are products that are intended to enhance your daily nutrient consumption, such as vitamins and minerals. Many are safe and provide considerable health benefits, but some might be harmful to your health if used excessively. Amino acids, fatty acids, enzymes, probiotics, herbals, botanicals, and animal extracts are examples of dietary supplements.

Dietary supplement manufacturing is a lucrative business. Upwards of half of all Americans use dietary supplements on a regular or occasional basis, for example. Supplements are available without any prescription and are typically in the form of pills, powder or liquid.

Nutritional Advantages

Some supplements can help you acquire enough of the essential nutrients your body needs to operate, while others can help you avoid disease. Supplements, on the other hand, should not be used to substitute whole meals, which are essential for a healthy diet – so make sure you eat a variety of foods as well.

Supplements, unlike pharmaceuticals, cannot be sold for the aim of treating, diagnosing, preventing, or curing disease. This means that supplements should not make health claims like “lowers high cholesterol” or “treats heart disease.” These kinds of claims can’t be made for dietary supplements.

Undoubtedly dietary supplements can assist manage certain health issues and enhance general health. Consider the following scenario:

• Calcium and vitamin D help to strengthen bones and prevent bone loss.
• Folic acid helps to prevent several birth abnormalities.
• Some persons with heart problems may benefit from omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils.
• Vitamins C and E, zinc, copper, lutein, and zeaxanthin (known as AREDS) may help persons with age-related macular degeneration slow down vision loss (AMD).

Think About the Risks

Yes. Many supplements contain active substances with potent biological effects. This could put them in danger in some scenarios, as well as harm or complicate your health. The following activities, for instance, could have serious – even life-threatening – repercussions.

• Combined use of supplements
• Combining vitamins and medications (whether prescription or over-the-counter)
• Supplements as a replacement for pharmaceutical drugs
• Taking too much of some supplements, such as vitamin A, vitamin D, or iron, might cause health problems.
• Prior, during, and after surgery, some supplements can have unfavorable side effects. As a result, make sure to tell your healthcare practitioner about any supplements you’re taking, including your pharmacist.

Safety Concerns

Before dietary supplement items are marketed, the FDA is not authorized to assess them for safety and effectiveness.

Dietary supplement producers and distributors are responsible for ensuring that their products are safe before they are released to the public.

If a dietary supplement contains a NEW ingredient, the company must notify the FDA before marketing it. Nevertheless, the FDA will simply review the notification (it will not be authorized) for safety, not effectiveness.

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Dietary supplement manufacturers must guarantee that their products are of high quality, free of contaminants or impurities, and appropriately labeled in accordance with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) and labeling laws.

When a major problem with a dietary supplement arises, it must be reported to the FDA as an adverse event. If dietary supplements are found to be hazardous or if product claims are inaccurate or misleading, the FDA has the authority to remove them from the market.

Ignorance is Not Always Bliss, Get Informed

Dietary supplement labels must include the manufacturer’s or distributor’s name and address. If you wish to learn more about the product you’re using, contact the manufacturer or distributor for information on:

• Data to back up the product’s claims
• Details about the product’s constituents’ safety and effectiveness.

Wise Shopper You Are

Yoda knows best! Be a knowledgeable supplement consumer. Here’s how to do it:

• Instead than relying on information from merchants while searching for supplements on the internet, consult noncommercial sources (e.g. NIH, FDA, USDA).
• When something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Product promises like “works better than [a prescription drug],” “completely safe,” or “has no side effects” should be avoided.
• Keep in mind that the phrase “natural” does not always imply “safe.”
• Consult your doctor to see if the supplement you are considering is safe, efficient and effective for you.
• Always keep in mind that safety comes first!

Don’t Snitch, But Inform the FDA on Problems

Notify the FDA if you or a close relative had a significant reaction or sickness after taking a dietary supplement (even if you’re not certain that the product was the cause or it’s due to the reasons that you did not visit a doctor. Take the following steps:

• Do not use the product.
• To find out how to handle the situation, contact your healthcare professional.
• You can contact the FDA in one of two ways:

-In your location, contact the Consumer Complaint Coordinator.

-Use the Safety Reporting Portal to submit a safety report online.

Conclusion

As far as it depends on you, try and eat as healthy as you can. Supplements do have their role, but they should be taken in moderation and cautiously. More than ever you should keep Deepak Chopra’s words in your mind- “Nutritional supplements are not a substitute for a nutritionally balanced diet.”