Dietary supplements may provide great advantages to certain individuals, yet may pose potential health risks. According to law, they cannot make medical claims and they can contain ingredients not listed on the label.
Dietary supplements are not FDA-approved drugs and may interact with medicines you are already taking. To minimize health risks from taking dietary supplements, here are a few tips and precautions.
They are not a substitute for a healthy diet
Dietary supplements, also referred to as nutritional supplements, include any vitamin, mineral, herb or botanical, amino acid metabolite or other ingestible preparation that is ingested as part of one’s daily diet in order to promote health. They come in the form of tablets, capsules, liquids powders or chewables and are used by over half of all Americans regularly.
Diets designed to promote optimal health should include a wide range of food to provide all essential vitamins and minerals to our bodies, but if you find that your daily diet falls short in terms of essential nutrition needs, supplements may provide needed support.
But it is essential to keep in mind that supplements should not replace a balanced diet, and should only be taken according to label instructions. Some supplements can cause serious adverse reactions or interact with medications prescribed by healthcare professionals; it is wise to consult your healthcare provider prior to taking any dietary supplements and report any adverse events to the FDA.
They are not a cure
Supplements may help manage some health conditions, but they should never be used as a cure for illness. They can even be harmful if taken in large doses or combined with certain medicines; for instance comfrey can damage liver tissue while aristolochia could potentially lead to kidney failure – so always consult with a healthcare provider prior to taking any dietary supplements and inform them about any medications you are currently taking.
Dietary supplements may be derived from plants or animals and come in the form of tablets, capsules, powders, liquids and energy bars. They may contain vitamins, minerals, herbs and other ingredients regulated by the FDA; additionally they may make claims regarding structure or function that are unregulated.
Claims that supplements will help you lose weight, treat Alzheimer’s disease or shrink tumors are usually false promises that could do more harm than good. Avoid buying such products, as they could contain drugs which interfere with medical treatments and interfere with medical treatments themselves.
They can interact with medicines
Dietary supplements have become increasingly popular, yet some products can interact negatively with prescription medicines. When taken together with certain drugs, supplements can increase side effects or diminish efficacy; taking St John’s Wort in combination with many medications – including antidepressants, birth control pills and anti-rejection meds – may significantly diminish effectiveness; additionally it could increase serotonin syndrome risk by significantly.
To identify potential drug-dietary supplement interactions, a database of oral prescription medication records was cross-referenced with each patient’s list of dietary supplements they took. Interactions were classified as documented (based on actual case reports or clinical trials), probable, and possible interactions. A website was also utilized to help identify drugs metabolized via the CYP450 enzyme system. Our results demonstrated that certain dietary supplements may cause serious drug interactions; some products altering metabolism of certain drugs and increasing their toxicity may have serious ramifications on interactions.
They are not regulated by the FDA
Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) does not directly regulate dietary supplements; however, the FDA monitors market for products which may be unsafe or make false claims and can take legal action against manufacturers of such products.
The FDA requires manufacturers of dietary supplements to comply with good manufacturing practices (GMPs), which ensure their safety and quality. Furthermore, the agency regulates advertising of such supplements.
Bekker, Flores and Sinha recommend that Congress consider placing a tax on dietary supplements to fund more rigorous oversight, placing more burden on manufacturers while increasing recall chances and discouraging marketing of dietary supplements as medicine as a step to protect public safety. Furthermore, health care practitioners must educate patients regarding dietary supplement safety issues and discuss benefits/risks when discussing products like these with patients.
