Multivitamins, vitamin D, echinacea and fish oil are just some of the many dietary supplements currently available to consumers. While many have demonstrated health benefits, adopting healthy eating practices often negates their need.
Before beginning taking any supplement, always consult with a doctor or dietitian first and keep a record of all dietary supplements you have taken including dosage information.
What are they?
Dietary supplements are health products containing vitamins, minerals and herbs intended to support overall wellness. Dietary supplements may come in tablet, capsules, bars, gummies or liquid formats and are regulated differently than medicines by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so they cannot advertise that they treat, diagnose, cure or prevent diseases.
Supplements should not replace a healthy, well-rounded diet; in fact, not all supplements are created equal; some studies have even linked certain supplements with increasing your risk for certain health conditions if taken over an extended period or at higher dosage levels.
Keep a record of the supplements you take and inform healthcare professionals, to help monitor your health and assess whether any may interact with other medicines you’re taking or cause side effects or reactions. It also informs them about any adverse reactions or side effects caused by certain products.
What are the benefits?
Dietary supplements provide essential nutrients that may be missing in your diet and reduce risk factors associated with certain health conditions, but they should not be considered medicines as they don’t treat or cure diseases. Therefore, they are regulated differently from prescription or over-the-counter drugs, and must include language on their labels that states: This product has not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration and should not be used to diagnose, treat, mitigate, cure, or prevent any disease.”
Registered dietitians advise eating a wide range of nutritious foods first and foremost because eating these food sources provides many other important health benefits beyond supplementation, including dietary fiber, soluble carbohydrates and phytochemicals not found elsewhere.
The National Institutes of Health provides scientific information regarding dietary supplement ingredients and uses, while the Food and Drug Administration oversees products with their labeling, while the Federal Trade Commission oversees advertising. Adults most frequently report using dietary supplements to improve or maintain their health, boost immunity or prevent colds, gain more energy or increase energy. Less frequently reported reasons include organ-specific health concerns (bone, eye, heart or joint issues) and menopause or weight loss (Figure).
What are the risks?
Dietary supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbs and botanicals, amino acids and enzymes in various forms including pills, gummies, liquids powders teas. People often take them to reduce disease risk or improve wellbeing – sometimes these products are also known as natural therapies or complementary therapies.
Supplements are not evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration before being sold, meaning they could contain false or misleading claims that interfere with laboratory tests, and cause physiological changes which could potentially harm our bodies.
Before using dietary supplements, it’s essential that you consult with your healthcare team first. Knowing which products are safe can also be useful when taking multiples at once. If you experience adverse reactions when using supplements it is also vital that they are reported directly to the FDA as this helps us identify potentially hazardous products and remove them from the market – see How to Report an Adverse Event for more details.
Do I need them?
Dietary supplements can come in tablet, capsule, powder or liquid forms and may contain vitamins or minerals from herbs and plants like echinacea, fish oil or melatonin. People often take iron, calcium or folic acid supplements to prevent or treat health conditions like anemia or osteoporosis.
However, there is limited evidence to support dietary supplement use as a means to prevent diseases like heart disease. It’s important to inform your healthcare professional if you take dietary supplements as some can cause adverse side effects, interfere with lab tests, or have dangerous implications when taken prior to surgery.
Your best way to meet your nutritional needs without using supplements is through eating a varied and healthy diet that includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables as well as low-fat or non-fat dairy. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables also reduces calories intake as well as added sugars, saturated & trans fats as well as sodium intake.
