Dietary supplements are substances used to supplement a person’s diet. They come in the form of tablets, capsules, gel caps, liquids and gummies. FDA regulates these supplements by inspecting manufacturing facilities, monitoring markets and reviewing NDI submissions.
Supplements must not claim to treat, diagnose, mitigate, cure or prevent diseases. They must also be safe for pregnant women.
They are not regulated the same way as medicines
Though you might assume supplements are subject to similar regulations as medications, this isn’t entirely accurate. While the Food and Drug Administration regulates them as foodstuffs rather than drugs and subject them to rigorous tests that medications must endure, which could prove potentially hazardous for some patients – particularly children and young adults.
Dietary supplements fall under the FDA’s purview as food products, so their safety must be continuously monitored once on the market. Each dietary supplement must also feature a Supplement Facts panel which lists their components per serving in addition to providing either quantitative amounts by weight or as percentage of daily value declaration.
Medical professionals must educate themselves on the difference between medications and supplements and their effects on human health in order to provide their patients with appropriate advice while reducing potential side effects. This knowledge can also assist them with counseling their patients appropriately and avoid potentially harmful interactions between medications and supplements.
They are not a substitute for a healthy diet
Though dietary supplements may help some individuals meet their nutritional needs, they should never replace a healthy diet. Consume in moderation; people with health conditions should discuss using them with their physician first; also note that some supplements could interact with medications and lab tests and cause interference; be sure to notify all health care professionals regarding supplement use as well as report any side effects or adverse reactions directly to FDA.
The FDA regulates dietary supplements with less stringency than pharmaceutical medicines. Manufacturers must first demonstrate that their supplements are safe and effective before making any claims about them; furthermore, an established system for testing quality is necessary and products must be labeled clearly.
Supplements are frequently promoted at levels that far surpass what is necessary to promote good nutrition, potentially leading to overdoses of essential nutrients that may have detrimental effects on heart and kidney health. Some can even prove fatal.
They can be dangerous
Dietary supplements can be dangerous if they contain ingredients not listed on their labels, when combined with other medicines or food products, or when exposed to foreign objects. Too much or too little of any ingredient could result in serious health problems like liver damage; for this reason it is wise to consult a health care professional prior to taking supplements.
Most dietary supplements have not been rigorously tested for safety, leading to false or misleading claims being made by some manufacturers. Some kava supplements have even been linked with severe liver damage. Furthermore, other supplements were discovered interacting negatively with certain medications and causing harm in children or pregnant women.
To prevent such issues, the FDA requires manufacturers to employ good manufacturing practices and keep records of their products, reporting any adverse events to them as soon as they occur. Consumers can report issues directly through the Safety Reporting Portal.
They can be misleading
Many people take dietary supplements to increase their nutrient intake, and some of these supplements may be essential to overall health and wellbeing. Calcium and Vitamin D supplements have long been known to keep bones strong; pregnant women should take folic acid supplementation during their pregnancies for this very purpose. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that unlike medicines these dietary supplements are unregulated products with marketing claims which may be falsely advertised.
As opposed to medicines, which must first undergo rigorous testing in order to be sold in the US market, dietary supplements do not need to go through such scrutiny – leaving irresponsible companies open to making unsubstantiated and false claims in their marketing materials.
These errors can lead to serious health risks, including taking supplements that contain drugs not listed on their labels and experiencing side effects and interactions with medications that could prove lethal – this has led to increased emergency room visits and hospital admissions as well as liver or kidney damage and even deaths linked to these supplements.
