If you take dietary supplements, it’s essential that you understand exactly what’s being consumed. Supplement use is often driven by health concerns; multivitamin-minerals, calcium and fish oil supplements are among the most frequently taken.
Vitamins, minerals, herbs and whole food supplements come in the form of tablets, capsules, gummies and powders that can be easily taken orally. Exceeding the needs of your body could cause adverse side effects.
Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements are vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other products that do not undergo the same rigorous testing requirements as drugs. They’re readily available over-the-counter at pharmacies and supermarkets nationwide – helping supplement any nutrients your diet might be missing.
Many supplements contain structure/function claims that outline how their nutrients might benefit the body; for instance, “calcium helps build strong bones” or “fiber helps keep regularity at bay”. Unfortunately, supplements cannot claim to prevent or treat specific diseases.
Some supplements can be harmful if taken in excess. Consult with your health care providers regarding which supplements may be the most suitable choice for you, along with help in finding appropriate brands and dosages. According to FDA recommendations, third-party certification seals such as Informed Choice, US Pharmacopeia or NSF International can ensure quality and safety.
Food Additives
Food additives may be natural or synthetic, and often serve multiple functions. Some, like ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and lecithin found in eggs and soybeans, possess antibacterial properties.
Food additives come in many different forms; among the primary categories are anti-caking agents, binders, color additives, color enhancers, enzyme preparations, preservatives, flavor enhancers, leavening agents, sweeteners and miscellaneous additives. Furthermore, this category can be broken down further into subcategories such as emulsifiers, stabilizers and texturizers.
Food additives have long been utilized as tools to preserve foods, thicken them and enhance their appearance, texture, taste and overall quality. Some common thickeners include starches such as arrowroot, corn and potato starch; vegetable gums such as locust bean gum guar and pectin; while acidulants imparting an acid taste and foaming agents also feature as thickeners.
Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
Dietary supplement market can be an unpredictable maze for consumers who lack control over what goes into their bodies. To help people make informed choices, the National Institutes of Health recently issued two fact sheets: one covering exercise and athletic performance supplements; and another detailing weight loss products.
Dietary supplements may provide some assistance where a nutritious diet is not possible, but they should not replace eating a variety of nutritious foods to maintain good health. Labeling that follows FDA guidelines gives consumers the assurance that the products they are taking meet high-quality standards set forth by a regulatory body and may prevent legal complications due to noncompliance.
FDA
FDA scientists work tirelessly to ensure the safety of food, medicines, dietary supplements and medical devices. They ensure manufacturers follow laws for labeling production plants clean. Furthermore they inspect bottled water as well as animal medicines.
The Food and Drug Administration regulates nutritional claims on foods and dietary supplements to help consumers identify nutritious products, though it doesn’t review each one before release to market. Instead, fines can be levied against products found to contain harmful ingredients; fines issued and recall actions initiated against dangerous ones; manufacture taken over; fines imposed and recall products manufactured without approval taken back over by them when needed if dangerous ones exist; however it relies heavily on industry fees as funding source which critics contend could compromise its independence; it oversees many programs like infant formula and medical foods, plus critical programs involving critical programs requiring oversight such as infant formula and medical foods programs.
NIH
Established in 1887, the National Institutes of Health is the primary federal research organization dedicated to biomedical and public health research. Their mission is to investigate fundamental questions regarding living systems while applying this knowledge for enhanced health, longer lives, reduced illness and disability.
NIH nutrition research aims to uncover how food and dietary supplements can be used to prevent disease, promote good health, manage chronic illnesses and understand their effect on people depending on their genes, environment and lifestyle. This work seeks to uncover how differences among individuals may influence how their bodies react to certain food or dietary supplements.
NIH website offers nutrition resources for both professionals and consumers. A Dietary Supplement Ingredient Directory allows consumers to search products marketed as dietary supplements to determine whether FDA has taken any action regarding certain ingredients.
