Vitamins are vital nutrients essential to human health and wellbeing, readily available both through food sources and supplements. Most individuals can obtain all their necessary vitamins by following a balanced and varied diet; however, some individuals may require supplements.
Some supplements are tailored specifically for men or women of specific ages or may contain extra iron which is beneficial after menopause for female users.
They aren’t regulated by the FDA
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees dietary supplements, but they’re not subject to FDA review for safety or effectiveness before hitting store shelves, leaving consumers vulnerable to products with potentially hazardous ingredients.
The FDA does regulate labeling and can take actions if supplements prove dangerous once on the market; however, its lack of premarket approval makes it hard for it to keep pace with an ever-expanding industry.
As is always the case when taking supplements, if you have a medical condition it is wise to consult your physician first before taking vitamin supplements. Furthermore it is wise to select high-quality vitamins certified by an independent third party like U.S. Pharmacopeia as well as to avoid taking too much at once which could have toxic side effects. In May’s AMA Journal of Ethics researchers, clinicians, and ethicists explore why this underregulated industry needs better oversight.
They aren’t a substitute for a healthy diet
Dietitians generally advise obtaining most of your vitamins and minerals through healthy food choices; however, multivitamins can still be useful – particularly for people who struggle to consume enough fruits and vegetables, or with medical conditions that limit nutrient absorption. Just be sure to read labels thoroughly prior to beginning any vitamin supplements to check for hidden ingredients or potential interactions; large doses of certain nutrients could prove hazardous to health.
Diet can offer numerous additional health advantages that supplements can’t, such as lower risk of heart disease, cancer and premature ageing. Yet research indicates it can be challenging to duplicate these effects with supplements alone due to food’s variety of compounds (phytochemicals or plant chemicals) working together.
They aren’t safe for everyone
Diet is the best way to obtain vitamins. Vitamin supplements should only be taken under medical supervision due to potential health risks associated with high dose supplements and potential interactions between medications taken simultaneously.
Remember, research indicates that multivitamins do not extend lifespan or protect against cognitive decline or decrease disease risks like heart disease or cancer; rather, they may just fill nutritional gaps for people on restricted diets or those unable to enjoy a wide variety of food due to illness or disability.
Dietary supplements are extracted or nutritional compounds taken directly from whole food sources; therefore they don’t always work the same for everyone. Some of them may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines; therefore it is crucial that you inform both your physician and pharmacist of all supplements taken.
They aren’t always the right form
When purchasing vitamin supplements, chances are the vitamins you receive don’t match those found in food – because supplements contain specific extracts of the vitamin rather than an entire food source containing many different compounds and nutrients that you might get through food instead of pills. This poses a problem as whole foods contain far more nutritional compounds and nutrients that just one or two vitamins found in pills could ever offer.
This can be particularly troublesome with certain vitamins like folate and vitamin E, which our bodies appear to absorb better when consumed naturally (RRR-alpha tocopherol) rather than synthetic forms found in supplements or fortified food products. To ensure you take only high quality and pure vitamin supplements, look for ones certified by USP or NSF organizations as these non-profit bodies certify quality and purity while helping educate consumers about potential overdose risks associated with vitamin supplement use.
