What is a Dietary Supplement?
Dietary Supplement is a product taken by mouth that contains a “dietary ingredient” intended to supplement the diet. The “dietary ingredients” in these products may include vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, accessory nutrients, and metabolites.
Dietary Supplements can be found in many forms such as tablets, capsules, soft gels, gel caps, liquids, or powders. They can also be in other forms, such as a nutritional bar or beverage, but if Are Dietary Supplements Regulated?
Under the European Food Safety authority (EFSA) guidelines were given for overseeing the supplement industry and the truthfulness of the claims that are being made.
As with any food product, federal law requires manufacturers of Dietary Supplements to ensure that the products they put on the market are made in cGMP facilities, accurately labeled, and that quality control testing has been performed to help confirm safety.
How Do You Read A Supplement Label?
Products sold as dietary supplements come with a Supplement Facts label that lists the active ingredients, the amount per serving (dose), as well as other ingredients, such as fillers, binders, and flavorings. The manufacturer suggests the serving size, but your healthcare provider might decide a different amount is more appropriate for you.
Information that is required on the labels of Dietary Supplements include:
- Statement of identity (e.g., “Vitamin D3”)
- Net quantity of contents (e.g., “60 capsules”)
- Structure-function claims are included on the label to highlight general health and wellness support but are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
- Directions for use (e.g., “Take one capsule daily.”)
- Supplement Facts panel (lists serving size, amount, and active ingredient)
- Other ingredients in descending order of predominance and by common name or proprietary blend.
- Name and place of business of manufacturer, packer, or distributor. This information provides the address to write for more product information.
Effectiveness
Some dietary supplements can help you get adequate amounts of essential nutrients if you don’t eat a nutritious variety of foods. However, supplements can’t take the place of the variety of foods that are important to a healthy diet.
Some dietary supplements can improve overall health and help manage some health conditions. For example:
- Calcium and vitamin D help keep bones strong and reduce bone loss.
- Folic acid decreases the risk of certain birth defects.
- Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils might help some people with heart disease.
- A combination of vitamins C and E, zinc, copper, lutein, and zeaxanthin (known as AREDS) may slow down further vision loss in people with age related macular degeneration (AMD)
Many other supplements need more study to determine if they have value. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) does not determine whether dietary supplements are effective before they are marketed.
