When it comes to improving your health, dietary supplements can be a great addition to your diet. But are they safe? The answer is yes, as long as you use them correctly. In this article, we'll explore the safety of dietary supplements, how to use them correctly, and what to look out for when choosing a supplement.
Drugs vs. Supplements
Drugs must be approved by the FDA before they can be sold or marketed, while supplements do not require this approval.Supplement companies are responsible for having proof that their products are safe, and the claims on the label are truthful and not misleading. Vitamins are generally considered safe by the general public and a large percentage of the population uses them. In a survey, half of people aged 50 to 64 took vitamins, a figure that increased to 68% in people aged 65 and older.
Vitamin Safety
While vitamin C and vitamin B12 are generally considered safe in any amount, excessive amounts of certain vitamins are associated with harm. What a U.S. consumer calls a dietary supplement, for example, a person from another country might consider it a conventional food or drug.
Knowledge is Power
A lack of knowledge about the risks of supplements can sometimes lead to potential and unforeseen problems. Dietary supplement is a generic term that includes everything from vitamins and minerals to botanicals and biosimilars (such as the so-called natural male hormone). While it's relatively easy to analyze a single supplement to see how much vitamin you're taking, it's harder to keep track when you're taking multiple supplements, especially when the products contain multiple components or patented blends.Safety for Children and Pregnant Women
The safety of many supplements has not been well evaluated in children and in people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.Multivitamins, vitamin D, echinacea, and fish oil are among the many dietary supplements found on store shelves or available online.
Types of Supplements
Supplements are ingested and come in many forms, such as tablets, capsules, softgels, softgels, powders, sticks, gummies and liquids. Some dietary supplements can help you get adequate amounts of essential nutrients if you don't eat a variety of nutritious foods. Although supplements are popular, there is limited evidence that they offer significant health benefits. Supplements can also help people with Crohn's disease or celiac disease, conditions that make it difficult for certain nutrients to be absorbed.Ingredients in Supplements
In addition to vitamins, dietary supplements may contain minerals, herbs or other botanical ingredients, amino acids, enzymes, and many other ingredients. Some supplements may increase the risk of bleeding or, if taken before surgery, may change the response to anesthesia.Regulation of Supplements
The federal government can take legal action against companies and websites that sell dietary supplements when companies make false or misleading statements about their products, if they promote them as treatments or cures for diseases, or if their products are not safe.Conclusion
Dietary supplements are intended to add to or supplement the diet and are different from conventional foods.When used correctly and responsibly they can help reduce the risk of certain diseases and improve your quality of life. However it is important to be aware of potential risks associated with taking too much of certain vitamins or taking multiple supplements at once.
