Many adults and children in America. Many adults and children in the United States take one or several vitamins or other nutritional supplements. In addition to vitamins, nutritional supplements and protein bars may also contain herbal extracts, minerals, and compounds, such as amino acids, enzymes, and many other ingredients. Dietary supplements can be found in a variety of formats, including capsules, tablets, or gummies, as well as powders along with Energy bars, drinks, and other drinks. Some of the most sought-after supplements are vitamins D and B12; minerals such as iron and calcium; herbs such as garlic and echinacea as well as products like glucosamine, probiotics, and fish oils.
Effectiveness
Some dietary supplements can assist you in getting adequate quantities of the essential nutrients you require if you don’t eat a nutritious variety of foods. But they cannot replace the diverse foods that are important to healthy eating habits. For more information on what makes healthy food, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate are both excellent options for information.
Certain nutritional supplements can boost overall health, and also help to manage certain health issues.
For example:
- Vitamin D and calcium help keep bones strong and reduce the loss of bone.
- Folic acid lowers the risk of certain birth defects.
- Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils could aid people suffering from heart disease.
- A combination of vitamins C and E zinc, copper, lutein, and Zeaxanthin could slow the progression of vision loss among people suffering from AMD. (AMD).
- Many other supplements need more investigation to determine whether they have value. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not able to evaluate whether nutritional supplements have value before they are marketed.
Safety and Risk
A lot of supplements contain active ingredients that have profound effects on the body. Be alert to the possibility of a bad reaction, especially when using an unproven product.
You are most likely to get side effects from diet supplements if they are taken in high doses or in place of prescribed medicines, or if you take numerous supplements. Certain supplements may increase the risk of bleeding or, if they are taken prior to surgery, could alter the response to anesthesia. Supplements also interact with certain medications in ways that could cause issues. Here are some examples:
- Vitamin K can decrease the capacity of the blood thinner warfarin in preventing blood clotting.
- St. John’s wort can help in the breakdown of a variety of medications and decrease their effectiveness (including certain birth control pills, antidepressants, heart medications, anti-HIV medications, and transplant drugs).
- Antioxidant substances, like supplements with vitamins C and E, may reduce the effectiveness of certain kinds of cancer chemotherapy.
Manufacturers may add vitamins, minerals as well as other supplement ingredients to foods you eat particularly breakfast cereals and beverages. In the end, you could get more of the ingredients you’re thinking of, and more might not be the best. Taking more than you need can cost more and also increase your chance of experiencing side results. For example, too much vitamin A could cause headaches, liver damage, reduce bone strength, and cause birth defects. The excess iron can cause nausea and vomiting and may damage the liver as well as other organs.
Be cautious about taking nutritional supplements if you’re expecting or breastfeeding. Be careful when giving supplements to a child, unless it is recommended by your healthcare provider. Many supplements have not been well tested for safety in pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children.
If you suspect you’ve had an adverse reaction to a nutritional supplement, inform your healthcare provider know. He or she can be able to report the incident to the FDA. You may also send your report directly to FDA by making a call to 800-FDA-1088, or by filling out the online form. Also, you should submit your findings to the manufacturer using the contact details on the product label.
Quality
The FDA has set up good manufacturing practices (GMPs) that companies have to follow to ensure the consistency, purity, and quality of their dietary supplements. These GMPs will prevent the use of the wrong ingredient (or excessively or too less of the correct ingredient) and decrease the possibility of contamination, or incorrect packaging and labeling of products. The FDA periodically checks manufacturing facilities for supplements.
Speak to your healthcare provider
Let your healthcare professionals (including dentists, doctors pharmacists, dietitians, and doctors) about any dietary supplements you’re taking. They’ll help you identify which supplements may be beneficial for you.
Keep a comprehensive record of any dietary supplements as well as medicines you take. On the Office of Dietary Supplements website has a useful form “My Dietary Supplement and Medicine Record,” that you can print and fill out at home. Each product should be noted with your name, the amount you consume, the frequency you take it, and the purpose for using it. It is possible to share this information with your healthcare providers to discuss what’s best on your behalf for overall wellness.