Basic Facts About Dietary Supplements

The following basic facts about dietary supplements will help you better understand what they are and how they are regulated.

What is a dietary supplement?

The term "dietary supplement" was defined by the United States Congress in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. DSHEA defines a dietary supplement as a product that is ingested, is intended to supplement the diet, and contains one or more "dietary ingredients."

Dietary ingredients may include vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, metabolites, constituents, extracts and concentrates. Dietary supplements can come in many forms, including tablets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps, liquids, powders and bars.

How are dietary supplements regulated?

In the United States, dietary supplements are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA regulates dietary supplements under a different set of regulations than those covering foods and drug products (prescription and over-the-counter).

Generally, dietary supplement companies do not need to get FDA approval before producing or selling their products. Under DSHEA, dietary supplement companies have sole responsibility for the safety and efficacy of the products they put on the market. They're also responsible for ensuring that any product information, such as what's on a product's label and packaging, is truthful and not misleading.

The FDA is responsible for taking action against any unsafe dietary supplement products after they reach the market. The FDA can also take action when a supplement's product information is found to be untruthful or misleading. Dietary supplement advertising is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The FDA has established good manufacturing practices (GMPs) for dietary supplements. These GMPs are intended to try and ensure that dietary supplements are produced in a quality manner, do not contain contaminants or impurities, and are accurately labeled and packaged. However, it's still left up to the dietary supplement companies to follow these GMPs.

Because the responsibility to produce safe and effective products is left up to the dietary supplement companies, you need to be a cautious consumer when purchasing supplements. Be wary of all the marketing hype that surrounds the dietary supplement industry. Make sure that any dietary supplement products you purchase come from a reputable company with a track record of producing high quality products. Safety and effectiveness should always be more important than price.

What are the primary 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. With the exception of vitamin D, the body can't produce vitamins, so they must be obtained from food or dietary supplements.

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 in the liver and fatty tissues and are excreted from the body much more slowly. Vitamins A, C and E are antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body's cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals can cause cell damage that leads to aging and may lead to the development of certain diseases.

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. The body is not able to produce minerals, so they must be obtained from food or dietary supplements.

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.

Herbal Supplements - Herbal supplements contain herbs, either singly or in mixtures. An herb is a plant or plant part used for its flavor, scent or potential therapeutic properties. Many herbal supplements have a long history of use and health benefits, but herbal supplements can act in the same way as drugs and can cause health problems in some users.

Other Supplements - There are many dietary supplements that are not considered vitamin, mineral or herbal supplements, such as 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.

In conclusion, I hope that these basic facts about dietary supplements have given you a better understanding of what can sometimes be a confusing topic.