An Overview of Dietary Supplements

The dietary supplements (also called nutritional supplements and food supplements) are products containing dietary ingredients intended to supplement the normal diet. They are not presented as a substitute for conventional food, nor as a single component of a meal or diet.

They are considered common foodstuffs, which are intended to complement the normal diet in situations of stress, intense physical exercise, recovery from convalescence due to illness or surgery, or even when it is intended to improve the general state of health.

The degradation of minerals in soils has been reducing the nutritional level of food in general, being one of the reasons that have led more and more people to adopt the consumption of food supplements, as a way to keep their health in balance, by complementing their diet.

What is a Dietary Supplement?

The Dietary Supplement Health Education Act (DSHEA) defines a dietary supplement as,

Any product (except tobacco), in the form of pills, capsules, tablets, or liquid, that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other plant products, amino acids, or any other known dietary substance that is designed as a supplement to the normal diet.

Additionally, certain hormones, such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA, a precursor to androgens and estrogens) and melatonin, are regulated as dietary supplements and not as drugs.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates dietary supplements differently than drugs. They regulate quality control and manufacturing processes but do not guarantee the standardization of active ingredients or efficacy. A dietary supplement can be sold without research on its effectiveness.

Manufacturers of dietary supplements cannot legally claim that dietary supplements can diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. However, they can claim that they contribute to the maintenance of health and well-being.

People have used the active ingredients in dietary supplements for thousands of years to aid in health and to treat disease. Sometimes these supplements are the basis for some of the most common medications available today. For example, for centuries, people have used willow bark tea to relieve fever. Over time, drug companies identified the chemical in willow bark that relieved fever and used that knowledge to make aspirin.

Main features of Dietary Supplements:

According to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, the main features of dietary supplements are:

1. Dietary supplements should be consumed orally.
2. Dietary supplements contain food ingredients intended only to supplement the normal diet.
3. Dietary supplements come in different forms, such as tablets, capsules, gelatin capsules, liquids, and powders.
4. Dietary supplements should not be presented as a substitute for conventional food, nor as a single component of a meal or diet.
5. Dietary supplements should be identified as dietary supplements on the label.
6. Dietary supplements can be sold in grocery stores, health food stores, and drug stores.

Risks of taking Dietary Supplements:

To reduce the risks of taking a dietary supplement, it is convenient to take into account the following:

1. Consult your doctor for safety about the nutritional supplement, to establish a comprehensive treatment plan. It is particularly important to consult your doctor if:
   plan to replace your regular medical treatment with one or more supplements.
   you are taking any medications (prescription or nonprescription). Some supplements are known to interact with medications.
   have a chronic illness or disorder.
   pending surgery. Some supplements increase the risk of bleeding or interfere with anesthesia and pain relievers.
   are pregnant or breastfeeding.
   you are considering supplementing a child. Many products that are marketed as suitable for pediatric use have not been tested for safety and efficacy in children.
2. Do not take a higher dose than is indicated on the supplement label unless recommended by a doctor.
3. If you feel any side effects, stop taking the supplement, and contact your doctor.
4. If you are considering using herbal supplements, there are some precautions to keep in mind.

Indications:

Some applications of dietary supplements have scientifically based therapeutic indications. For example, folic acid prevents some birth defects, and some vitamins and zinc can slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration.

Other uses have not been scientifically proven to be effective. For example, a herbal formula that supposedly relieves arthritis pain; or taking vitamin C to prevent or treat a cold.

Interaction of supplements and medications:

There are numerous interactions of dietary supplements with each other, and with medications and foods. For example:

• The Grass of San Juan can increase the effect of drugs given to treat depression. It can also interfere with medications used to treat HIV infection, cancer, and those that prevent the body from rejecting transplanted organs. They also affect the effectiveness of contraceptive methods.
• The ginseng can increase the stimulant effects of caffeine (equal to that make the tea, soft drinks, and coffee ). It can also lower blood glucose levels, increasing the possibility of problems when taking diabetes medications.
• The ginkgo, when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs may increase the risk of bleeding. Ginkgo may also interact with certain psychiatric medications and with some medications that influence blood glucose levels.

Gluten

Dietary supplements may contain gluten, flours, or other derivative products, a fact that is important to consider in people who suffer from a gluten-related disorder. Usually reading the labeling is not enough to clarify whether the product contains gluten or traces.

Meaning of the word “natural” on a supplement label:

There are many dietary supplements and prescription drugs that come from natural sources and are helpful and harmless. However, “natural” does not always mean “harmless” or “without harmful effects.” For example, wild mushrooms are natural, some of them can be eaten without problems and others are poisonous.

The FDA publishes warnings about supplements that pose risks to consumers, including those used by alternative therapies. Because they can seriously damage health, by being contaminated with other herbs, pesticides, heavy metals, or prescription drugs not mentioned on the label, or by dangerously interacting with some medications. Some supplements with warnings from the FDA are:

• Ephedra
• Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), gamma-butyrolactone (GLB), and 1,4-butanediol (BD)
• Kava
• Some “diet infusions”
• L-tryptophan
• Some products are for sexual enhancement that claimed to be the “natural” version of the drug Viagra ®, which contained a drug (sildenafil or tadalafil) that was not mentioned on the label
• PC SPES and SPES
• Aristolochic acid
• Comfrey
• Grass of San Juan

Some FAQs:

Can supplements replace food?

Supplements can have important nutrients that are good for us but they can’t replace food. Because supplements can’t give you the required calories your body needs. Another reason is that our digestive system is not used to only supplements intake. Our body needs bulk to function properly. We need to chew in order to keep our teeth and gum healthy.

Ready-made and already industrialized supplements are a safe and much more accessible outlet for those seeking balance and improving body immunity. A food supplement, however good it is, will never replace a good diet or specific medical treatment. After all, as the name says, a supplement is something that exists to complete, so it is a dietary supplement, and never a substitute.

Necessary care with food supplements:

When looking for food supplementation, it is important to know the pros and cons of each ingredient listed on the label. Also, you should be aware of the quality of that product.

The ideal use of food supplements is to consume them with the correct indication and dose, either to complement the absence of nutrients in food or to supplement in cases of increased nutritional need. The dose and recommendation should be prescribed by a doctor or nutritionist.

Are the most expensive food supplements the best?

“Not necessarily, but if a supplement is extremely cheap we should also be suspicious because the quality of the raw material is also paid for, not just the brand.”

How to know if the food supplement is of quality?

Among other things, you can look for the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) guarantee and quality seal. The supplements that have it are from brands that bet on quality and optimized production conditions.

What should I do before I start taking it?

Always consult with a health professional, or nutritionist, or dietician They will check if you have any deficiency or whether your body needs more nutrients that you get from food. They can adjust your diet accordingly and recommends some supplements if you need them.

It is also an alert for excesses, since overdoing the dose can bring consequences to the body. In the case of proteins, for example, overdoing it can cause kidney overload.

What are dietary supplements used for?

People use dietary supplements for many health conditions.

Historically, people have used herbal medicines to prevent disease, cure infections, relieve fever, and heal wounds. Herbal medicines can also treat constipation, relieve pain, or act as relaxants or stimulants. Research on some herbal and plant products has shown that they may produce some of the same effects as conventional medications, while others may have no effect or may be harmful.

Researchers have studied some natural products and found that they are helpful. Omega-3 fatty acids, for example, may help lower triglyceride levels.

Researchers have determined that some supplements do not help prevent or treat certain health problems. For example, beta-carotene and vitamin E do not reduce the risk of heart disease or a heart attack.

Are Dietary Supplements Safe?

Not all herbs and supplements are safe. If you are not sure about the safety of a supplement or herb, talk to a health professional.

Always inform your doctor if you are using a dietary supplement or if you are considering combining a dietary supplement with your conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe for you to give up your conventional medical treatment and turn only to a dietary supplement. This is especially important for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

When using dietary supplements, keep the following in mind:

Like conventional medications, dietary supplements may cause side effects, lead to allergic reactions, or interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications or other supplements that you may be taking. A side effect or interaction with another drug or supplement could make other health conditions worse.

The way dietary supplements are made may not be standardized. For this reason, their effectiveness or any side effects they cause may differ between brands or even within different batches of the same brand. The form of the supplement that you buy in health food stores or grocery stores may not be the same as the form used in the research.

Except for vitamins and minerals, the long-term effects of most dietary supplements are unknown.

Food, physical activities, and supplementation: the perfect triad.

Combining food, physical activities and supplementation is the most complete and effective way to achieve the body’s nutritional needs and the desired results. This incredible combination has several benefits for the body and should be prescribed by a health professional, such as doctors, physical education professionals, and nutritionists.