Dietary supplements What you should know before having it

Many people take dietary supplements in an effort to be good and stay healthy. With so many supplements available and so many claims made about their health benefits, how can a consumer decide what is safe and effective? This fact sheet gives an overview of dietary supplements, discusses security considerations, and suggests additional sources of information.
Federal regulations for food supplements are very different from those for prescription drugs or pharmaceuticals and nonprescription drugs. For example, a manufacturer of dietary supplements need not prove the safety of a product and effectiveness before it is marketed. If you plan to use a dietary supplement, first information about it from reliable sources. Keep in mind that food supplements in May interact with other medicines or food supplements may contain ingredients not listed on the label. Tell your suppliers of health care in relation to all complementary and alternative practices you use, including dietary supplements. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordination and safe care.
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About Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements were defined in a law passed by Congress in 1994 called the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). Under DSHEA, a dietary supplement is a product that Is intended to supplement the diet Contains one or more dietary ingredients (including vitamins, minerals, herbs or other plants, amino acids and other substances) or their constituents Is intended to be administered orally in forms such as tablets, capsules, powder, capsule, liquid or gelcap pharmaceuticals Is labeled as a dietary supplement. Supplements Herbal is a form of dietary supplement. An herb is a plant or plant part (leaves, flowers or seeds) which is used for flavor, fragrance, and / or their therapeutic properties. "Botanical" is often used synonymously with "grass". An extra herbal May contain a single herb or herbal mixtures. Research has shown that certain uses of dietary supplements are effective in preventing or treating diseases. For example, scientists have found that folic acid (a vitamin), which prevents certain birth defects, and treatment of vitamins and zinc can slow the progression of age-related eye disease macular degeneration. Also the loss of calcium and vitamin D may be useful in the prevention and treatment of bone and osteoporosis (thinning of bone). The research also produced some promising results suggest that other dietary supplements may be useful for other health problems (eg, omega-3 fatty acids for heart disease), but in most cases, Further research is needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn.
The use of dietary supplements in the United States A national survey conducted in 2007 revealed that 17.7 percent of American adults have used the "natural products" (ie, dietary supplements other than vitamins and minerals) during the last 12 months. The most popular products used by adults for health reasons during the 30 days were the fish oil / Omega 3/DHA (37.4%), glucosamine (19.9%), the echinacea (19.8%), linseed oil or tablets (15.9%) and ginseng (14.1%). In another early national survey covering all types of food supplements, about 52 percent of adults surveyed reported using some form of supplement during the previous 30 days, the most frequently reported were multivitamins / multimineral (35 percent), vitamins E and C (12-13 percent), calcium (10 percent) and vitamin B complex (5 percent).

Federal Regulation of Dietary Supplements and pharmaceuticals
The federal government regulates dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The regulations for dietary supplements are not the same as prescription or over the counter medications. In general, the rules for food supplements are less strict. A manufacturer need not prove the safety and efficacy of a dietary supplement before it is marketed. A manufacturer is allowed to say that a dietary supplement addresses a nutrient deficiency, supports health, or is related to a particular function of the body (eg, immunity), if there is research to support claim. Such a request must be followed by the words "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. " Manufacturers are required to follow the practices "of some good manufacturing practice (GMP) to ensure that food supplements are treated consistently and meet quality standards. GMP requirements came into force in 2008 for large manufacturers and are in place for small manufacturers until 2010. Once a dietary supplement is on the market, the FDA monitors the safety. If it finds a product to be dangerous, it can take action against the manufacturer and / or distributor, in May and issue a warning or require that the product is withdrawn from the market. Also, once a dietary supplement is on the market, the FDA monitors product information, as the label claims and instructions. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for regulating the advertising of products, requiring that all information is truthful and not misleading. The federal government has filed lawsuits against a number of promoters of dietary supplements or websites that promote or sell dietary supplements because they have made false or misleading information about their products or products marketed as proved dangerous. Security Considerations If you think or you are using a dietary supplement, here are some things to keep in mind. Tell your suppliers of health care in relation to all complementary and alternative practices you use, including dietary supplements. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordination and safe care It is particularly important to talk to your care provider if you are healthy Thinking about replacing your regular medication with one or more food supplements. Take medications (whether prescription or nonprescription), as some dietary supplements have been found to interact with medications. Planning for surgery. Some dietary supplements may increase the risk of bleeding or affect the response to anesthesia. Pregnant or nursing a baby, or considering giving a child a dietary supplement. Most dietary supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children. If you take a dietary supplement, read the instructions on the label. Talk to your care provider if you have health issues, including the best mix for you to take. If you experience any side effects that concern you, stop taking dietary supplements, contact your provider and health care. You can also report your experience to program the FDA MedWatch. Reports on the safety of consumers on food supplements are an important source of information for the FDA. Keep in mind that although many dietary supplements (and some prescription drugs) come from natural sources, "natural" does not always mean "safe." For example, the herb comfrey and kava can cause severe liver damage. Also, use a builder of "standard" (or "verified" or "certified") does not necessarily guarantee product quality or consistency. Be aware that a supplement herbal may contain dozens of compounds and their active ingredients may not be known. Researchers are studying several of these products in an effort to identify active ingredients and understand their effects in the body. Also consider that what is on the label may not be what's in the bottle. Analysis of dietary supplements sometimes find differences between labeled and actual ingredients. For example: An extra herbal May not contain the correct plant species. The amount of active ingredient may be lower or higher than the U.S. label. This means that you may be less or more of the dietary supplement that you think. The dietary supplement may be contaminated with other herbs, pesticides or metals, or even adulterated with ingredients not labeled as prescription drugs.