Supplement Safety

8/23/2017

What are Dietary Supplements?

Supplements include anything from vitamins and minerals to herbs, enzymes, drinks, and energy bars. They can come in the form of tablets, capsules, gels, powders, liquids…you name it!

Supplement Regulation

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the agency responsible for supplement regulation, however, they don’t get involved with a supplement until after it is being sold to consumers. What does this mean? Consumers are often using supplements before they are evaluated by the FDA, whose guidelines are already less strict than those used for prescription drugs. Therefore, regulation of supplements before they hit the shelves falls into the hands of the manufacturers and distributors.

As you can see, taking supplements comes with a risk due to the “gray area” in supplement regulation.

Do Your Research

First and foremost, talk to a Registered Dietitian or Doctor before taking any new supplements. Supplements, just like other medications and some foods, can interact with medications you are already taking, which can lead to potentially dangerous effects. It’s also important to talk to a healthcare professional about dosage. Too much of a supplement can be very dangerous!

Research supplements on noncommercial websites for unbiased information. Be skeptical of websites that are promoting or supporting a certain product or supplement. A few places to start are:

Search for a supplement on the NIH database!

Be wary of health claims. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Third Party Verification and Independent Quality Assessment Seals

Although not fool-proof, picking a supplement with any of these seals will provide an “extra set of eyes” when selecting a supplement. These are independent groups that test for quality, meaning they make sure the supplement contains what is says it contains and that it doesn’t have dangerous contaminants. Don’t mistake this seal for proving safety or effectiveness!

Underwriters Laboratory (UL)
Banned Substances Control Group
Informed-Choice (geared towards sports supplements)

“Natural” does NOT mean “safe.”

A Dietitian’s Point of View

Always attempt to get the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients you need from food first. In fact, food contains fiber and many other substances that supplements don’t necessarily provide that have a positive impact on our health. Eat a variety of colors of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean protein throughout the week to pack a punch of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

On the other hand, not all supplements are dangerous and there are times that supplements may be appropriate and beneficial. For example, it is recommended that pregnant women take folic acid supplements or that someone following a vegan diet take vitamin B12. Just remember, talk to your Dietitian or Doctor before trying a new supplement!

Healthy wishes!
~Leah Swanson, RDN

References

Dietary Supplements. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/food/dietarysupplements/
Dietary Supplements. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved from https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dietary-supplements
Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/UsingDietarySupplements/ucm109760.htm
Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know. National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements. Retrieved from https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DS_WhatYouNeedToKnow.aspx
Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. National Institutes of Health: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/supplements/wiseuse.htm

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