Dietary supplements are an emerging industry. Like prescription medicines, dietary supplements must first receive approval by the Food and Drug Administration before being sold to customers.
Adults frequently rely on multivitamin-mineral supplements, calcium products, omega 3 fish oil or fatty acid products and botanicals as supplements; however they should not be seen as replacements for eating healthily; food contains complex mixtures of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals which work together; while supplements typically act in isolation.
Deficiencies
Nutrient deficiencies can have severe negative health repercussions. Over time, they can have lasting negative impacts that include decreased intellectual development, diminished work capacity and lowered quality of life as well as economic ramifications.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies occur when diet falls below requirements for proper intake or utilization, whether this be caused by inadequate food sources, higher growth and development needs, impaired nutrient absorption or disease-related impairments in intake or utilization. Surveys in high-income countries reveal that nutritional inadequacies and deficiencies are far too prevalent among vulnerable population groups compared with what would be expected.
Registered dietitians advise people to eat healthy food first as this will provide essential vitamins and minerals not available through supplements alone. If diet alone can’t address deficiencies in key areas such as Vitamin B-12 or calcium deficiency, supplements may offer relief; there are various categories of supplements available such as these.
Symptoms
As is well known, prescription drugs can have side effects and the same can be said of dietary supplements. Be wary if taking vitamin, mineral or botanical/herbal/botanical supplements such as melatonin, fish oil, echinacea or saw palmetto supplements; certain symptoms could indicate potential toxicity or other negative reactions.
Vitamins and minerals are often taken in large doses as supplements because people believe they’re safer alternatives to medication. Yet nutrient toxicity can still be just as dangerous, according to reports submitted to the FDA by health practitioners; over 6,300 reports had already been received between 2007 and mid-April 2012.
Symptoms may include liver or kidney damage, severe joint pain, rashes, diarrhea, fatigue and nausea. Iron and folic acid can be toxic at very high doses while other fat-soluble vitamins A-D-E-K or calcium may interact with certain prescription medicines and lead to adverse side effects that cause liver or kidney damage.
Treatment
Dietary supplements are over-the-counter supplements containing vitamins, minerals, herbs and enzymes such as C & D vitamins, folic acid, calcium, iron and fish oil.
Nearly one quarter of supplement users in the NHANES survey reported purchasing products due to advice from physicians or healthcare providers, with men and older adults more likely than others to state this motivation for using supplements.
Although high-dose dietary supplements may help correct deficiencies, they should only be taken under the advice of your physician or dietitian. To evaluate their efficacy properly, randomized clinical trials offer the best way to find out whether they work; volunteers are randomly assigned either supplements or a placebo pill and researchers monitor their health over time (although placebo pills look identical). Unfortunately, less than five percent of supplements evaluated through this method every year in America alone — an enormous oversight, considering Americans spend nearly $60 billion per year on them!
Side effects
Consumers in the United States spend an estimated $60 billion each year on nutritional supplements ranging from multivitamins and digestive aids to muscle builders and age-defiers, many without FDA approval and making potentially false or misleading claims.
Adults who use supplements commonly report doing so to enhance or maintain overall health and supplement any nutrients not obtained through diet alone. Other motivations might include treating specific conditions (eg, bone health and menopause-associated hot flashes in women).
Vitamin and mineral supplement use can be hazardous in certain instances. Overconsumption of fat-soluble vitamins like A, D and E may result in liver damage, digestive upset and black bowel movements (poo). High doses of water-soluble vitamins can also reach toxic levels; excess iron intake could result in nausea and black bowel actions. Always speak to your healthcare provider before beginning any supplements regimen.
