Dietary Supplements

On this page:

• Introduction
• Questions and Answers
• For More Information
• Definitions

Introduction

Dietary supplements are a topic of great public interest. Whether you are in a store, using the Internet, or talking to people you know, you may hear about supplements and claims of benefits for health. How do you find out whether "what's in the bottle" is safe to take and whether science has proven that the product does what it claims? This fact sheet provides some answers.

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Questions and Answers

1. What are dietary supplements?
2. Why do people take supplements?
3. Is using supplements considered conventional medicine or complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)?
4. How can I get science-based information on a supplement?
5. If I am interested in using a supplement as CAM, how can I do so most safely?
6. I see the word "natural" on a lot of supplement labels. Does "natural" always mean "safe"?
7. Does the Federal Government regulate supplements?
8. Is NCCAM supporting research on supplements?

1. What are dietary supplements?

Dietary supplements (also called nutritional supplements, or supplements for short) were defined in a law passed by Congress in 1994 (see the box below).

Dietary Supplements... Are taken by mouth. Contain a "dietary ingredient" intended to supplement the diet. Examples of dietary ingredients include vitamins, minerals, herbs* (as single herbs or mixtures), other botanicals, amino acids, and dietary substances such as enzymes and glandulars. Come in different forms, such as tablets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps, liquids, and powders. Are not represented for use as a conventional food or as a sole item of a meal or the diet. Are labeled as being a dietary supplement. * Linked terms are defined at the end of this fact sheet.

Dietary supplements are sold in grocery, health food, drug, and discount stores, as well as through mail-order catalogs, TV programs, the Internet, and direct sales.

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2. Why do people take supplements?

People take supplements for many reasons. A scientific study on this topic was published in 2002. In it, over 2,500 Americans reported on supplements they used (given the categories of vitamins/minerals and herbal products/natural supplements) and for what reasons. Their responses are summarized in the table below.

Supplements: Why Taken? *
Vitamins/Minerals	% of Responses	Herbals/Supplements	% of Responses
Health/good for you	35	Health/good for you	16
Dietary supplement	11	Arthritis	7
Vitamin/mineral supplement	8	Memory improvement	6
Prevent osteoporosis	6	Energy	5
Physician recommended	6	Immune booster	5
Prevent colds/influenza	3	Joint	4
Don't know/no reason specified	3	Supplement diet	4
Immune booster	2	Sleep aid	3
Recommended by friend/family/media	2	Prostate	3
Energy	2	Don't know/no reason specified	2
All others	22	All others	45

* Adapted from Kaufman DW, Kelly JP, Rosenberg L, et al. Recent patterns of medication use in the ambulatory adult population of the United States: the Slone survey. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002;287(3):337-344. Copyright © 2002, American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

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3. Is using supplements considered conventional medicine or complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)?

Some uses of dietary supplements have become part of conventional medicine. For example, scientists have found that the vitamin folic acid prevents certain birth defects, and a regimen of vitamins and zinc can slow the progression of the eye disease age-related macular degeneration.

On the other hand, some supplements are considered to be complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)--either the supplement itself or one or more of its uses. An example of a CAM supplement would be an herbal formula that claims to relieve arthritis pain, but has not been proven to do so through scientific studies. An example of a CAM use of a supplement would be taking 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C per day to prevent or treat a cold, as the use of large amounts of vitamin C for these purposes has not been proven.

Conventional Medicine Conventional medicine is medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health professionals, such as nurses, physical therapists, and dietitians. Other terms for conventional medicine include allopathy; Western, mainstream, orthodox, and regular medicine; and biomedicine. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Health care practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine are called CAM. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. There is scientific evidence for the effectiveness of some CAM treatments. But for most, there are key questions yet to be answered through well-designed scientific studies, such as whether they are safe and work for the diseases or conditions for which they are used. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the Federal Government's lead agency for scientific research on CAM.

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4. How can I get science-based information on a supplement?

There are several ways to get information on supplements that is based on the results of rigorous scientific testing, rather than on testimonials and other unscientific information.

• Ask your health care provider. Even if your provider does not happen to know about a particular supplement, he can access the latest medical guidance about its uses and risks.
  
  
• Dietitians and pharmacists also have helpful information.
  
  
• You can find out yourself whether there are any scientific research findings on the CAM supplement you are interested in. NCCAM and other Federal agencies have free publications, clearinghouses, and databases with this information.

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5. If I am interested in using a supplement as CAM, how can I do so most safely?

Here are some points to keep in mind:

• It is important to talk to your health care provider (or providers, if you have more than one) about the supplement. This is for your safety and a complete treatment plan. It is especially important to talk to your provider if you:
  
  
  • Are thinking about replacing your regular medical care with one or more supplements.
    
    
  • Are taking any medications (whether prescription or over-the-counter). Some supplements have been found to interact with medications.
    
    
  • Have a chronic medical condition.
    
    
  • Are planning to have surgery. Certain supplements may increase the risk of bleeding or affect anesthetics and painkillers.
    
    
  • Are pregnant or nursing a baby.
    
    
  • Are thinking about giving a child a supplement. Many products being marketed for children have not been tested for their safety and effectiveness in children.
    
    
• Do not take a higher dose of a supplement than what is listed on the label, unless your health care provider advises you to do so.
  
  
• If you experience any side effects that concern you, stop taking the supplement, and contact your provider. You can also report your experience to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch program, which tracks consumer safety reports on supplements.
  
  
• If you are considering or using herbal supplements, there are some special safety issues to consider.
  
  

Supplements and Drugs Can Interact For example: St. John's wort can increase the effects of prescription drugs used to treat depression. It can also interfere with drugs used to treat HIV infection, to treat cancer, for birth control, or to prevent the body from rejecting transplanted organs. Ginseng can increase the stimulant effects of caffeine (as in coffee, tea, and cola). It can also lower blood sugar levels, creating the possibility of problems when used with diabetes drugs. Ginkgo, taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs, can increase the risk of bleeding. It is also possible that ginkgo might interact with certain psychiatric drugs and with certain drugs that affect blood sugar levels.

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6. I see the word "natural" on a lot of supplement labels. Does "natural" always mean "safe"?

There are many supplements, as well as many prescription drugs, that come from natural sources and are both useful and safe. However, "natural" does not always mean "safe" or "without harmful effects." For example, consider mushrooms that grow in the wild--some are safe to eat, while others are poisonous.

The FDA issues warnings about supplements that pose risks to consumers, including those used for CAM therapies. A sample list is in the box below. The FDA found these products of concern because they:

• Could damage health--in some cases severely.
  
  
• Were contaminated--with other unlabeled herbs, pesticides, heavy metals, or prescription drugs.
  
  
• Interacted dangerously with prescription drugs.

Examples of Supplements That Have Carried FDA Cautions About Safety Ephedra GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid), GBL (gamma butyrolactone), and BD (1,4-butanediol) Kava Some "dieter's teas" L-tryptophan Certain products, marketed for sexual enhancement and claimed to be "natural" versions of the drug Viagra,® which were found to contain an unlabeled drug (sildenafil or tadalafil). PC SPES and SPES Aristolochic acid Comfrey St. John's wort

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7. Does the Federal Government regulate supplements?

Yes, the Federal Government regulates supplements through the FDA. Currently, the FDA regulates supplements as foods rather than drugs. In general, the laws about putting foods (including supplements) on the market and keeping them on the market are less strict than the laws for drugs. Specifically:

• Research studies in people to prove a supplement's safety are not required before the supplement is marketed, unlike for drugs.
  
  
• The manufacturer does not have to prove that the supplement is effective, unlike for drugs. The manufacturer can say that the product addresses a nutrient deficiency, supports health, or reduces the risk of developing a health problem, if that is true. If the manufacturer does make a claim, it must be followed by the statement "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."
  
  
• The manufacturer does not have to prove supplement quality. Specifically:
  
  
  • The FDA does not analyze the content of dietary supplements.
    
    
  • At this time, supplement manufacturers must meet the requirements of the FDA's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for foods. GMPs describe conditions under which products must be prepared, packed, and stored. Food GMPs do not always cover all issues of supplement quality. Some manufacturers voluntarily follow the FDA's GMPs for drugs, which are stricter.
    
    
  • Some manufacturers use the term "standardized" to describe efforts to make their products consistent. However, U.S. law does not define standardization. Therefore, the use of this term (or similar terms such as "verified" or "certified") does not guarantee product quality or consistency.
    
    
• If the FDA finds a supplement to be unsafe once it is on the market, only then can it take action against the manufacturer and/or distributor, such as by issuing a warning or requiring the product to be removed from the marketplace.
  
  

In March 2003, the FDA published new proposed guidelines for supplements that would require manufacturers to avoid contaminating their products with other herbs, pesticides, heavy metals, or prescription drugs. The guidelines would also require supplement labels to be accurate. These new guidelines could take effect as early as 2004.

The Federal Government also regulates supplement advertising, through the Federal Trade Commission. It requires that all information about supplements be truthful and not mislead consumers.

What's in the Bottle Does Not Always Match What's on the Label A supplement might: Not contain the correct ingredient (plant species). For example, one study that analyzed 59 preparations of echinacea found that about half did not contain the species listed on the label. Contain higher or lower amounts of the active ingredient. For example, an NCCAM-funded study of ginseng products found that most contained less than half the amount of ginseng listed on their labels. Be contaminated (as discussed in Question 6).

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8. Is NCCAM supporting research on supplements?

Yes, NCCAM is funding most of the nation's current research aimed at increasing scientific knowledge about supplements--including whether they work; if so, how they work; and how purer and more standardized products could be developed. Among the substances that researchers are studying are:

• Yeast-fermented rice, to see if it can lower cholesterol levels in the blood
  
  
• Soy, to see if it slows the growth of tumors
  
  
• Ginger and turmeric, to see if they can reduce inflammation associated with arthritis and asthma
  
  
• Chromium, to better understand its biological effects and impact upon insulin in the body, possibly offering new pathways to treating type 2 diabetes
  
  
• Green tea, to find out if it can prevent heart disease
  
  

NCCAM is also sponsoring or cosponsoring clinical trials on supplements, including:

• Glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate, to find out if they relieve knee pain from osteoarthritis
  
  
• Black cohosh, to see if it reduces hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause
  
  
• Echinacea, to see if it shortens the length or lessens the severity of colds in children
  
  
• Garlic, to find out if it can lower moderately high cholesterol levels
  
  
• Ginkgo biloba, to determine whether it prevents or delays decline in cognitive (thinking) function in people aged 85 or older
  
  
• Ginger, to confirm whether it eases nausea and vomiting after cancer chemotherapy
  
  

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For More Information

NCCAM Clearinghouse

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)

MedWatch

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), NIH

CAM on PubMed

The Cochrane Library

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Definitions

Amino acid: Building block of proteins.

Botanical: See "herb." "Botanical" is a synonym for "herb."

Clinical trials: Research studies in which a treatment or therapy is tested in people to see whether it is safe and effective.

Depression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. The symptoms of depression often include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or pessimism; and changes in sleep, appetite, and thinking.

Enzymes: Proteins that speed up chemical reactions in the body.

Glandulars: Dietary ingredients or supplements that are made from the glands of animals.

Heavy metals: A class of metals that, in chemical terms, have a density at least five times that of water. They are widely used in industry. A few examples of heavy metals that are toxic and have contaminated some dietary supplements are lead, arsenic, and mercury.

Herb: A plant or plant part that is used for its flavor, scent, and/or therapeutic properties.

Peer reviewed: Reviewed before publication by a group of experts in the same field.

Testimonials: Information provided by individuals who claim to have been helped or cured by a particular product. The information provided lacks the necessary elements to be evaluated in a rigorous and scientific manner and is not used in the scientific literature.

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