FooD FactS
Dietary Supplements
You’ve heard about them, may have used them, and may have
even recommended them to friends or family. While some dietary
supplements are well understood and established, others need further
study. Read on for important information for you and your family about
dietary supplements.
Before making decisions about whether to take a supplement, talk
to your healthcare provider. They can help you achieve a balance
between the foods and nutrients you personally need.
What are dietary supplements?
Dietary supplements include such ingredients as vitamins, minerals,
herbs, amino acids, and enzymes. Dietary supplements are marketed in
forms such as tablets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps, powders, and liquids
.
What are the benefits of dietary supplements?
Some supplements can help assure that you get enough of the vital
substances the body needs to function; others may help reduce the
risk of disease. But supplements should not replace complete meals
which are necessary for a healthful diet – so, be sure you eat a variety
of foods as well.
Unlike drugs, supplements are not intended to treat, diagnose,
prevent, or cure diseases. That means supplements should not make
claims, such as “reduces pain” or “treats heart disease.” Claims like
these can only legitimately be made for drugs, not dietary supplements
Dietary Supplements can be
beneficial to your health — but
taking supplements can also
involve health risks. The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) does not have the
authority to review dietary
supplement products for safety
and effectiveness before they
are marketed.
Are there any risks in taking supplements?
Yes. Many supplements contain active ingredients that have strong
biological effects in the body. This could make them unsafe in
some situations and hurt or complicate your health. For example,
the following actions could lead to harmful – even life-threatening –
consequences.
• Combining supplements
• Using supplements with
medicines (whether prescription
or over-the-counter)
• Substituting supplements for
prescription medicines
• Taking too much of some
supplements, such as vitamin A,
vitamin D, or iron
Some supplements can also have
unwanted effects before, during,
and after surgery. So, be sure to
inform your healthcare provider,
including your pharmacist about
any supplements you are taking.
Who is responsible for the safety of dietary supplements?
FDA is not authorized to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed.
The manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements are responsible for making sure their products are safe BEFORE they go to market.
If the dietary supplement contains a NEW ingredient, manufacturers must notify FDA about that ingredient prior to marketing. However, the notification will only be reviewed by FDA (not approved) and only for safety, not effectiveness.
Manufacturers are required to produce dietary supplements in a quality manner and ensure that they do not contain contaminants or impurities, and are accurately labeled according to current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) and labeling regulations.
If a serious problem associated with a dietary supplement occurs, manufacturers must report it to FDA as an adverse event. FDA can take dietary supplements off the market if they are found to be unsafe or if the claims on the products are false and misleading.
How can I find out more about the dietary supplement I’m taking?
Dietary supplement labels must include name and location information for the manufacturer or distributor.
If you want to know more about the product that you are taking, check with the manufacturer or distributor about:
• Information to support the claims of the product
• Information on the safety and effectiveness of the ingredients in the product.
How can I be a smart supplement shopper?
Be a savvy supplement user. Here’s how:
• When searching for supplements on the internet, use noncommercial sites (e.g. NIH, FDA, USDA) rather than doing
blind searches.
• Watch out for false statements like “works better than [a prescription drug],” “totally safe,” or has “no side effects.”
• Be aware that the term natural doesn’t always means safe.
• Ask your healthcare provider for help in distinguishing between reliable and questionable information.
• Always remember – safety first!
Some Common Dietary Supplements
• Calcium
• Echinacea
• Fish Oil
• Ginseng
• Glucosamine and/or
• Chondroitin Sulphate
• Garlic
• Vitamin D
• St. John’s Wort
• Saw Palmetto
• Ginkgo
• Green Tea
Dietary Supplements
You’ve heard about them, may have used them, and may have
even recommended them to friends or family. While some dietary
supplements are well understood and established, others need further
study. Read on for important information for you and your family about
dietary supplements.
Before making decisions about whether to take a supplement, talk
to your healthcare provider. They can help you achieve a balance
between the foods and nutrients you personally need.
What are dietary supplements?
Dietary supplements include such ingredients as vitamins, minerals,
herbs, amino acids, and enzymes. Dietary supplements are marketed in
forms such as tablets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps, powders, and liquids
.
What are the benefits of dietary supplements?
Some supplements can help assure that you get enough of the vital
substances the body needs to function; others may help reduce the
risk of disease. But supplements should not replace complete meals
which are necessary for a healthful diet – so, be sure you eat a variety
of foods as well.
Unlike drugs, supplements are not intended to treat, diagnose,
prevent, or cure diseases. That means supplements should not make
claims, such as “reduces pain” or “treats heart disease.” Claims like
these can only legitimately be made for drugs, not dietary supplements
Dietary Supplements can be
beneficial to your health — but
taking supplements can also
involve health risks. The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) does not have the
authority to review dietary
supplement products for safety
and effectiveness before they
are marketed.
Are there any risks in taking supplements?
Yes. Many supplements contain active ingredients that have strong
biological effects in the body. This could make them unsafe in
some situations and hurt or complicate your health. For example,
the following actions could lead to harmful – even life-threatening –
consequences.
• Combining supplements
• Using supplements with
medicines (whether prescription
or over-the-counter)
• Substituting supplements for
prescription medicines
• Taking too much of some
supplements, such as vitamin A,
vitamin D, or iron
Some supplements can also have
unwanted effects before, during,
and after surgery. So, be sure to
inform your healthcare provider,
including your pharmacist about
any supplements you are taking.
Who is responsible for the safety of dietary supplements?
FDA is not authorized to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed.
The manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements are responsible for making sure their products are safe BEFORE they go to market.
If the dietary supplement contains a NEW ingredient, manufacturers must notify FDA about that ingredient prior to marketing. However, the notification will only be reviewed by FDA (not approved) and only for safety, not effectiveness.
Manufacturers are required to produce dietary supplements in a quality manner and ensure that they do not contain contaminants or impurities, and are accurately labeled according to current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) and labeling regulations.
If a serious problem associated with a dietary supplement occurs, manufacturers must report it to FDA as an adverse event. FDA can take dietary supplements off the market if they are found to be unsafe or if the claims on the products are false and misleading.
How can I find out more about the dietary supplement I’m taking?
Dietary supplement labels must include name and location information for the manufacturer or distributor.
If you want to know more about the product that you are taking, check with the manufacturer or distributor about:
• Information to support the claims of the product
• Information on the safety and effectiveness of the ingredients in the product.
How can I be a smart supplement shopper?
Be a savvy supplement user. Here’s how:
• When searching for supplements on the internet, use noncommercial sites (e.g. NIH, FDA, USDA) rather than doing
blind searches.
• Watch out for false statements like “works better than [a prescription drug],” “totally safe,” or has “no side effects.”
• Be aware that the term natural doesn’t always means safe.
• Ask your healthcare provider for help in distinguishing between reliable and questionable information.
• Always remember – safety first!
Some Common Dietary Supplements
• Calcium
• Echinacea
• Fish Oil
• Ginseng
• Glucosamine and/or
• Chondroitin Sulphate
• Garlic
• Vitamin D
• St. John’s Wort
• Saw Palmetto
• Ginkgo
• Green Tea
No comments:
Post a Comment