Dietary supplements, sometimes referred to as nutritional supplements, are any ingestion product claiming to offer health benefits, such as multivitamins, garlic tablets, fish oil capsules, melatonin or energy drinks.
These products may come in the form of pills, powders, gel caps, beverages and gummies; they do not fall under regulation like prescription drugs and thus cannot claim to treat or prevent diseases.
Deficiencies
Dietary supplements may provide a way to promote wellness, yet not all are effective or have known risks that could even pose health threats. Consumers spend approximately $60 billion each year on multivitamins, digestive aids and products purported to build muscles or slow aging; Erin “Wren” Cahoon of the University of Colorado Hospital on Anschutz Medical Campus shared insights with UCHealth Today as to what consumers should know about nutritional supplements.
Wren is part of UCHealth Nutrition Team and offers individual counseling to patients in regards to diet and weight loss, group classes and lectures. She holds a master’s degree in public health as well as specialization in clinical nutrition. Suruchi Mishra, Bryan Stierman, Jaime Gahche and Nancy Potischman from National Center for Health Statistics’ Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys also contributed significantly towards this report.
Structure or function claims
Structure or function claims refer to the impact of nutrients or ingredients on normal body structure or function, versus health claims which describe relationships between substance use and reduced disease risks (for instance calcium and osteoporosis).
As opposed to health claims, structural or function claims don’t need substantiation or disclaimers for approval by the FDA. Nonetheless, manufacturers should take caution not to imply disease in their claims, such as supplements that claim “help alleviate mood swings” or “relieve hot flashes associated with menopause”. If such statements appear on supplement labels they could be taken by the FDA as implied disease claims which aren’t allowed.
Dietary supplements must comply with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nutrient content claim regulations when making structure/function claims, according to their nutrient content regulations. Expressed claims describe levels of particular nutrients found in food or supplements; implied claims refer to their useful role in supporting healthy dietary practices like “reducing heart disease” or “promoting energy.” Structure/function claims may be found on various products including foods, dietary supplements and beverages.
Safety
Although some dietary supplements have demonstrated health benefits, most aren’t well tested and should only be taken with advice from your healthcare provider. Certain ingredients found in supplements could interact negatively with medication taken concurrently and in large amounts or over an extended period.
Since dietary supplements are unregulated like drugs, manufacturers can make structural or function claims about them without being subject to medical research requirements that would have to be fulfilled before such claims could be made.
Cahoon suggests searching for products certified to meet specific standards by third-party organizations like US Pharmacopeia or NSF International, and looking for their seal on products like US Pharmacopeia or NSF International seals. He advises avoiding herbal supplements until they have undergone rigorous testing for purity, efficacy, and safety – or making sure your health care professional knows they are being taken.
Third-party certification
As opposed to pharmaceutical drugs, dietary supplements don’t need FDA clearance before going on sale; therefore third-party certification is key in verifying ingredients and claims made about them.
NSF International (NSF) is a public health organization that sets food and dietary supplement standards. Their programs consist of formulation/material review, testing and facility inspections to ascertain compliance. Supplements that comply can bear their mark.
NSF’s Informed Choice certification program is one of the most widely utilized third-party certifications for dietary supplements. Informed Choice tests for banned substances and contaminants to help athletes and consumers select supplements tailored specifically to their needs – particularly competitive athletes seeking performance-enhancing drugs and ingredients free supplements. Registered dietitian nutritionists should familiarize themselves with such certification programs to assist their patients/clients make informed choices when purchasing nutritional products.
