Dietary supplements are a booming business and come in the form of pills, powders or liquids. Dietary supplements often include vitamins, minerals, herbs and botanical extracts as well as microbiological products like fiber.
Supplement use was linked with several variables, including older age, being female, following a vegetarian diet, having a history of clinical eating disorders or skipping meals and having high weekly running mileage (Table 2). We conducted both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses on these variables.
Vitamins
Walking down the supplement aisle can be like treading through an intricate maze; suddenly you find yourself overwhelmed by RDAs, AIs and DVs written with seemingly random letters and chemical names.
Vitamins are organic substances used by our bodies for various metabolic processes and to support healthy teeth and bones. They’re essential components in creating strong skeletons.
Vitamin supplements should be obtained through eating healthily. However, if you prefer taking them anyway, look for products tested by the U.S. Pharmacopeia; an independent nonprofit organization which ensures manufacturers meet strength, purity and quality standards as well as potential filler ingredients that could compromise product purity. These tests could reveal hidden filler ingredients.
Minerals
Minerals are natural inorganic substances characterized by their unique chemical composition and crystal structure. To be classified as a mineral, the substance must have a highly ordered internal atomic framework that manifests itself externally as regular crystal structures with distinctive cleavage and symmetry characteristics; any substance not meeting these criteria would be classified as an amorphous material.
Minerals cannot be produced within our bodies and must therefore be taken in through diet. Most of us get their recommended daily allowance of minerals through food sources, with essential elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and magnesium being essential as well as trace elements such as chromium copper fluoride iron zinc iodine iodine being trace elements that make up minerals. Other properties distinguishing them include their luster hardness colour streak cleavage tenacity fluorescence.
Herbs
Many people take both herbal supplements and prescription drugs without knowing about potential interactions between the two, often without realizing the serious adverse reactions which could arise when taken simultaneously. Consuming both can cause serious adverse reactions that could even be fatal.
As it’s essential to discuss any herbal medications with your GP before using them, especially if pregnant or breastfeeding, or taking prescribed medication such as clopidogrel for heart conditions, it is advisable that any such herbal remedies be thoroughly discussed prior to their use. Certain herbs have been linked with liver issues; others interact with medications.
Herbal medicine is comprised of various plant compounds that work synergistically, such as feverfew and chamomile’s pain-relieving properties. Unfortunately, when herbs are processed into supplements for sale to consumers, manufacturers can selectively choose those parts they believe to be healthy – often leaving out important vitamins or minerals from your daily intake of herbs.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Dietary intakes of EPA and DHA from fish sources such as salmon may vary widely, which is why the Institute of Medicine has set an ADRI of 1.0 grams/day for omega-3s from ALA sources for infants aged one and above [1].
Higher fish intake and diet containing omega-3 LCFA is linked with reduced colorectal cancer risk, with benefits depending on gender.
LC omega-3s are converted to active forms such as DHA and EPA within the body, appearing as plasma or serum phospholipid fatty acids. High erythrocyte concentrations of DHA/EPA could serve as an indicator for long-term consumption; there is evidence suggesting a connection between diets high in DHA/EPA intakes and reduced blood triglycerides/cholesterol, fish oil supplements, pain relief, morning stiffness reduction in people living with rheumatoid arthritis.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D (also referred to as calciferol) is an essential fat-soluble vitamin essential for bone health. Without enough of this essential nutrient, weak or soft bones, depression, increased risk of cardiovascular disease and even death may occur. With excessive intake of dietary supplements or oral vitamin D preparations however, kidney failure, calcification of soft tissues including heart valves and arteries as well as death could result.
Clinical trials evaluating vitamin D supplements have yielded mixed results on various health outcomes, such as cancer incidence and mortality rates. One such trial, conducted by Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), revealed that supplementation with 10 micrograms (400 International Units) of vitamin D3 per day did not reduce colorectal cancer rates [94]. Likewise, optimal serum concentrations of 25(OH)D for bone health have yet to be established.
