Supplements are an easy and accessible way to supplement our diets with essential vitamins and minerals, but aren’t subject to as stringent regulations as medications.
Medication is carefully evaluated before it goes on the market; unfortunately, most supplements do not undergo premarket testing or evaluation before going onto sale, leading to potential safety and effectiveness concerns among consumers.
They are popular
Walking down the vitamin and supplement aisle can be confusing and overwhelming, since most are unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so consumers must do their own research prior to selecting any. Furthermore, supplements can interact with medications that could potentially have detrimental side effects; make sure to speak to an internal medicine provider in Cary to be certain any supplements taken will not interfere with their regimen.
Many Americans understand the advantages of taking health supplements, yet some may be unaware that these products do not necessarily cure diseases or prevent illnesses. Furthermore, the FDA only regulates them after being sold and so often any claims made on product labels cannot be supported with evidence.
However, more consumers are turning to these supplements to enhance their mental wellbeing. Over the last year alone, searches for ashwagandha and rhodiola have skyrocketed due to their reputation of helping users sleep better as well as reduce stress and anxiety levels.
They are regulated
Dietary supplements in the EU are classified as foodstuffs and subject to harmonised legislation, with regulations setting forth an approved list of vitamins and minerals. Companies seeking to use substances outside this list must apply to EFSA for evaluation.
Manufacturers must follow good manufacturing practices (GMPs) to ensure health supplements contain all the desired ingredients at their desired purity, strength, and composition. This helps prevent adding too much or too little of an ingredient; additionally it protects against contamination from microbes or heavy metals. Manufacturers must display their GMP verification standards on packaging.
Even with these regulations in place, many supplement products remain unregulated and pose serious danger. Such products may contain harmful ingredients and interact negatively with prescription medicines; moreover, many make false promises of treating and curing diseases without actually doing anything effective or useful for that purpose. To protect consumers properly from this practice, more powerful incentives and tools must be in place in order to enforce manufacturing and safety regulations effectively.
They are not regulated
Supplement manufacturers can make virtually any claim they want about their wares without needing to provide proof, yet this can cause unnecessary confusion among consumers. Supplements may not contain all of the listed ingredients or have the advertised potency; leading them to become suspect products. This leads to mistrust among customers.
To prevent this from happening, look for supplements with a United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) Verified Mark or third-party testing. A verification mark indicates that they contain verified ingredients in their declared amounts and under sanitary conditions – plus that their manufacturing followed current FDA Good Manufacturing Practices.
Good news is that the FDA does regulate supplements; they do this through inspecting dietary supplement facilities, reviewing new dietary ingredients before being sold on the market, investigating complaints and monitoring market activity to detect any potential health risks. Unfortunately, many manufacturers fail to abide by basic requirements set forth by law.
They are not safe
If you’re taking supplements, it is essential that you conduct thorough research. Read labels carefully, check for undeclared ingredients and recalls, as well as consult with your physician prior to beginning new supplements; the health claims made by some companies may not be supported by scientific research; some supplements could even be harmful.
Many supplements can have dangerous or even life-threatening interactions when combined with certain medications, for instance ginkgo biloba and warfarin can both increase internal bleeding risk if taken at the same time.
If you experience an adverse reaction while taking supplements, report it immediately to the FDA. Doing so will enable them to identify potentially hazardous products on the market and remove them quickly from circulation. You can contact them by visiting their website or calling 1-800FDA-HELP (1-800-332-8435). It’s also wise to discuss taking additional vitamins or minerals with your doctor prior to beginning any supplement regimen; they will assess your diet to see if any additional ones may be necessary.
