Although most healthy people should meet their nutritional needs through food alone, some individuals may need dietary supplements to address specific needs such as nutrient deficiencies or life stages such as pregnancy. Such supplements come in the form of powders or tablets.
The Food and Drug Administration regulates dietary supplements by inspecting manufacturing facilities, reviewing new dietary ingredients, and responding to reports submitted by firms, consumers, or healthcare professionals.
Nutraceuticals
Nutraceuticals are products you can consume to improve overall wellbeing and promote overall health, manage chronic illnesses, or treat specific illnesses. Nutraceuticals may come in the form of dietary supplements, herbal products or processed food and include fish oil capsules, probiotics and fortified beverages – although some nutraceuticals lack scientific support – it’s essential that when selecting one it contains only scientifically supported ingredients and is free from additives that could compromise your wellbeing.
Nutraceuticals should complement healthy eating as part of an overall holistic lifestyle, but aren’t meant to replace it entirely. Nutraceuticals may help with maintaining or increasing health while treating illness or injury, and consulting your physician prior to taking them could be wise as some may interact with current medications you’re on. Nutraceuticals form part of an expanding food as medicine movement that seeks to include foods in healthcare treatments and interventions.
Dietary supplements
Dietary supplements are concentrated supplements containing vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other nutritional substances in pill form. They may come as pills, capsules, liquids or powders; unfortunately they’re not as strictly regulated as pharmaceutical drugs so quality and ingredients may vary; some supplements may interact with medications so it’s wise to discuss any potential interactions with your healthcare provider prior to taking supplements.
People use dietary supplements to supplement their vitamin and mineral intake or to enhance health and well-being, typically when combined with healthy eating and regular physical activity. Users should be aware of any possible adverse side effects from supplements such as nausea, bleeding and liver damage as these risks should also be taken into consideration when making decisions regarding consumption of such products.
Reporting adverse events associated with dietary supplements to the FDA is also essential in helping identify and remove dangerous products from circulation. Their website explains how to do this. Moreover, this agency regulates safety through inspections and other activities.
Legality
Under UK food law, foods and dietary supplements must meet all of the same legal standards as conventional food items, including being safe for human consumption and not misleadingly labeled. Furthermore, certain ingredients need approval by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in order to meet recommended nutrient intake levels stated on their labels.
In the United States, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) classifies dietary supplements as food products under its jurisdiction and requires companies that sell them to comply with federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regulations – including providing clinical trial data and making structure/function claims – under FDA. Furthermore, adulterated supplements cannot enter the market under this act, giving FDA powers to remove such products from circulation.
Not only must manufacturers of dietary ingredients ensure the quality of finished dietary supplements, but they must also abide by current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs). These regulations mandate testing both raw materials and finished products to verify identity, purity, strength, and composition of each product.
