Most adults and kids in America. Many adults and children in the United States take one or more vitamins or other dietary supplements.
In addition to vitamins, dietary supplements can contain herbs, minerals, ingredients like amino acids, botanicals, enzymes, and many other ingredients. Dietary supplements come in a variety of forms, including capsules, tablets as well as gummies, and powders along with bar snacks and drinks.
Popular supplements include vitamins D and B12, minerals like calcium and iron, and herbs like garlic and echinacea as well as the probiotics like glucosamine, and fish oils.
Effectiveness
Certain nutritional supplements will help you obtain adequate amounts of essential nutrients in the event that you’re not eating an adequate selection of meals. However, supplements cannot substitute for the variety of foods that are essential to the healthiest diet. To learn more about what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and what makes a healthy diet, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate are good resources for information.
Certain supplements in the diet can enhance overall health and can help control some health conditions.
For instance:
- Vitamin D and calcium help maintain strong bones and help reduce bone loss.
- Folic acid decreases the risk of some birth defects.
- Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils might help some patients suffering from heart disease.
- A mixture consisting of vitamin C and E, zinc, copper, and lutein as well as Zeaxanthin can slow the process of sight loss in patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Numerous other supplements require further study to determine if they have any value. There is no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that is not able to examine whether supplements for dietary use are efficient before they are commercialized.
Safety and Risk
Many supplements have active ingredients that have profound effects on the body. Always be alert to the possibility of having a negative reaction, particularly when you are taking any new substance.
There is a high chance that you’ll be afflicted by side effects of dietary supplements if you use them in large quantities or in lieu of prescribed medicines or if you take various supplements. Some supplements can increase the chance of bleeding, or, if they are taken prior to surgery, alter the response to anesthesia. Supplements can interact with certain medicines in ways that can cause issues.
Here are some examples:
- Vitamin K can reduce the capability of blood thinner warfarin to block blood from clotting.
- St. John’s wort can help in the breakdown of a variety of medicines and reduce their effectiveness (including certain birth control pills, antidepressant heart medications, anti-HIV medications, and transplant drugs).
- Antioxidant supplements, for example, vitamins C and E could reduce the effectiveness of certain kinds of chemotherapy for cancer.
Manufacturers might add vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients for supplementation in the food you eat such as breakfast cereals or beverages. Therefore, you might get more of the ingredients you’re thinking they should, and the more you consume could not be better. In addition, taking more than you’ll need costs more and might also raise your risk of side effects. For instance, excessive vitamin A may trigger headaches, liver damage and weaken the bone, and result in birth defects. Over-use of iron can cause nausea or vomiting and may harm the liver as well as other organs.
Be careful when taking dietary supplements if in the process of becoming pregnant, or you are nursing. Be careful when the use of supplements for children, unless recommended by a healthcare professional. Some supplements haven’t been thoroughly tested for safety in nursing mothers, pregnant women, or children.
If you suspect you’ve had an adverse reaction to a diet supplement, inform your healthcare provider know. He or she may be able to report the incident to the FDA. You can also submit a report directly to the FDA by calling 800-FDA-1088 or filling out an online form via an external link disclaimer. You must also submit your findings to manufacturers using the contact information provided on the label.
Quality
The FDA has set up good manufacturing practices (GMPs) that companies have to follow to help ensure the consistency, purity, and composition of their nutritional supplements. These GMPs are able to prevent the inclusion of the wrong ingredient (or excessive or too little of the proper ingredient) and decrease the possibility of contamination or improper labels and packaging of products. The FDA periodically checks factories that manufacture supplements.
Contact Your Healthcare Provider
Be sure to inform your healthcare provider (including dentists, doctors, pharmacists, and dietitians) about any dietary supplements you’re taking. They can help you determine what supplements if any might be valuable for you.
Keep a comprehensive note of all supplements to your diet and medications you use. The Office of Dietary Supplements website includes a handy form “My Dietary Supplement and Medicine Record,” which you can print and complete at home. For each product, note its name, the dose you consume, the frequency you take it, and the reason behind its use. It’s possible to share this data with your physician to discuss the best options regarding your overall well-being.