Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements (also known as nutritional supplements, or supplements for short) can play an important role in your health by complementing your regular diet and helping ensure that you're getting all of the nutrients your body needs. And far too many people are not getting all of the nutrients they need from their regular diet alone.

Dietary supplements were defined by Congress in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. A dietary supplement must meet all of the following conditions:

• It is intended to supplement the diet
• It contains one or more of the following: vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids
• It is intended to be taken in tablet, capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap, or liquid form
• It is not represented for use as a conventional food or as a sole item of a meal or the diet
• It is labeled as a dietary supplement

Dietary supplements are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as foods, but they are regulated differently from conventional foods (and from drugs).

Dietary supplement ingredients sold in the United States prior to October 15, 1994 are not required to be reviewed by the FDA for their safety before they are made available to consumers because they are presumed to be safe based on their history of use. The FDA has to prove that a dietary supplement product is unsafe in order to restrict it's use or remove it from the marketplace.

A "new dietary ingredient" is an ingredient that was not sold in a dietary supplement prior to October 15, 1994. Dietary supplement manufacturers must notify the FDA of their intent to market a dietary supplement product containing a new dietary ingredient, and provide information on how they determined that reasonable evidence exists that the product will be safe to use. The FDA can refuse to allow a new dietary ingredient into the marketplace for safety reasons.

The label of a dietary supplement product is required to be truthful and not misleading. If the label does not meet this requirement, the FDA may remove the product from the marketplace or take other appropriate actions.

In June 2007, the FDA issued regulations that established new good manufacturing practices (GMPs) for dietary supplements. These new GMPs are intended to ensure that dietary supplements are processed in a consistent manner and meet quality standards.

The Four Basic Types Of Dietary Supplements

Vitamin Supplements - Vitamins are organic substances that the body needs in order to function properly. Vitamins help the body grow, develop, and stay healthy. They boost the immune system, regulate metabolism, help convert fat and carbohydrates into energy, and assist in forming bone and tissue.

There are 13 known vitamins, and they are divided into two groups: water-soluble vitamins (the eight B vitamins and vitamin C) and fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K). Water-soluble vitamins are excreted from the body on a daily basis. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored primarily in the liver and are eliminated from the body much more slowly. Vitamins A, C, and E are antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent damage from free radicals, which are chemicals that destroy cells and play a role in many diseases.

With the exception of vitamin D, the body is not able to produce vitamins, so they must be obtained from food. Unfortunately, many people are not getting enough vitamins from their daily food sources. Vitamin supplements can ensure that you get all of the vitamins your body needs.

Mineral Supplements - Minerals are inorganic substances that the body needs in order to function properly. Minerals are essential for a wide range of vital processes, from basic bone formation to the normal functioning of the heart and digestive system. A number of minerals have been linked to the prevention of cancer, osteoporosis, and other chronic illnesses.

Major minerals (also known as macrominerals) are those minerals for which the body's requirement is at least 100 milligrams per day. Trace minerals (also known as microminerals) are those minerals that are needed by the body in smaller amounts.

The body is not able to produce minerals, so they must be obtained from food. But just like with vitamins, many people are not getting enough minerals from their daily food sources. Mineral supplements can ensure that you get all of the minerals your body needs.

Herbal Supplements - Herbal supplements are derived from plants that have medicinal properties. There are a multitude of different herbal supplements available, and they are advertised to treat just about any symptom. Many herbal supplements have a long history of use and health benefits, but others have no evidence to support their advertised claims. Some of the most popular herbal supplements include echinacea, garlic, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, glucosamine, kava, melatonin, saw palmetto, and St. John's wort.

Many people use herbal supplements as alternatives to over-the-counter and prescription drugs because they are "all natural." Even though they are all natural, herbal suplements can act in the same way as drugs and can have side effects and cause medical problems for some users. Consult with your doctor if you have any uncertainty over taking herbal supplements.

Other Supplements - There are many dietary supplements that are not considered vitamin, mineral, or herbal supplements. Some examples of these other supplements are amino acids, essential fatty acids, proteins, enzymes, and probiotics. These other supplements are used for a variety of reasons, such as to aid digestion, to strengthen the immune system, to build muscle, and to protect against certain diseases.

The dietary supplement industry has experienced explosive growth over the last several years, especially in the category of weight loss dietary supplements. There are now thousands of different supplement products available to consumers. Many of these products are very effective, but some are ineffective and a waste of money. You need to make sure that any dietary supplements you purchase come from a reputable company with a track record of producing high quality products. Don't be swayed by advertising. Many of the supplement companies with the largest advertising budgets don't produce the highest quality products.

Recommended Resource

• Vitabase is a company you can rely on for all of your dietary supplement needs. Vitabase sells only high quality products that have real science behind them. Use the Vitabase Supplement Advisor if you need recommendations on which supplements are best for dealing with particular health problems.