When it comes to dietary supplements, it can be difficult to know what to believe. On one hand, some evidence suggests that certain supplements may improve health in different ways. On the other hand, if you're already healthy, most supplements may not do much to improve your health or prevent death. To help you make an informed decision, this article will explore the potential benefits and risks of dietary supplements. Vitamins, minerals and many other micronutrients are essential for the body's functioning and are a key part of a healthy diet.
However, getting these nutrients from food is not the same as taking them in supplement form. In the United States, many packaged foods are already fortified with additional nutrients, making nutritional deficiencies rare in the general population. For most people, supplements may offer questionable benefits. The evidence is even more confusing when it comes to certain plant-based dietary supplements known as botanicals, such as echinacea and ginkgo. Scientists have tried to decipher the effects of many botanicals or nutritional supplements, but the field is still plagued by weak or contradictory results.
Many of the health claims that companies include on the labels of their supplements may extrapolate the results observed in animals to humans or exaggerate what are still preliminary findings. As a result, consumers may not know what to do with claims about supplements and may be confused about which supplements are helpful. How dietary supplements are promoted and advertised depends on how they are regulated by the U. S. government.
Until stricter federal regulations are in place to ensure that supplements are safe and effective, consumers should proceed with caution and do their due diligence before taking supplements. Cohen has previously suggested changes to current regulations, including standardizing manufacturing processes, carefully examining new ingredients and creating stricter standards for the claims that manufacturers can make about their supplements. When deciding whether to take supplements, consumers should consider a few things. Beware of outlandish claims as they are unlikely to be true. Also keep in mind that some supplements may contain a much higher dose in a single pill or serving than you need.
It is always best to consult your doctor about the use of any supplement, as many supplements can interact with medications you're taking. They may also not be safe to take during pregnancy or breastfeeding, before surgery, or during cancer treatment or other medical treatments. Consumers should also know how to spot poor quality products. Look for certifications such as USP or NSF International as a sign that the products are of higher quality. Finally, consumers can search for information on specific vitamins, minerals, and botanicals on trusted websites such as those run by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the National Institutes of Health. Zhang points out that scientific evidence could always evolve as researchers continue to study nutritional supplements.
But for now, there are more reliable ways to improve health. Half of American adults, including 70 percent of those over 65, take a multivitamin or other vitamin or mineral supplement on a regular basis. The Office of Dietary Supplements website has a helpful form called My Dietary Supplement and Medicine Record which you can print and complete at home. You're more likely to have side effects from dietary supplements if you take them in high doses or instead of prescription drugs, or if you take many different supplements. The FDA is the federal agency that oversees both supplements and drugs, but the FDA regulations for dietary supplements are different from those for prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Ultimately, it is up to consumers to decide whether dietary supplements are right for them.
