What are Nutritional Supplements?

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Nutritional supplements come in many forms and varieties and include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, some steroids, the pineal hormone melatonin as well as herbal supplements. They are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, which means the supplement manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that a dietary supplement is safe before it is marketed. The FDA is responsible for taking action against any unsafe nutritional supplement product after it reaches the market. The Food and Drug Administration regulates dietary supplements as foods, and not as drugs, so they are treated differently than prescription drugs.

A nutritional supplement is a product that is intended to supplement the diet and contain any of the following dietary ingredients:

A vitamin
A mineral
An herb or other botanical (excluding tobacco)
An amino acid
A dietary substance for use by people to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake, or
A concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of any of the above

Furthermore, it must also conform to the following criteria:

It is intended for ingestion in pill, capsule, tablet, powder or liquid form.
It is not to be represented for use as a conventional food or as the sole item of a meal or diet.
It is labeled as a dietary supplement.
While hormones are not included in the above list, some hormones are labeled as "dietary supplements".

Dietary supplements are permitted to make structure and/or functional nutritional value claims. These are broad claims that the product can support the structure or function of the body, as in "glucosamine helps support healthy joints", "the hormone melatonin helps establish normal sleep patterns". The FDA must be notified of these claims within 30 days of their first use, and there is a requirement that these claims be substantiated.

Be aware that possible dangerous supplement-drug interactions can occur. Nutritional products may be derivatives of an "herbal" or "natural" source, but that information alone does not ensure the product's safety. Many of these products can produce pharmacological side effects when combined with other drugs. Investigating potential reactions before using new medications or nutritional supplements will enable you to safely benefit from the best of both traditional and alternative remedies. The best way to do that is to seek medical advice from your physician regarding possible interactions.

When considering nutritional supplements, first evaluate whether or not you are getting enough of the vitamin, mineral or herbal supplement through your daily dietary consumption. Getting recommended daily allowances through a healthy, nutritious diet if favored over supplementation if that is a likely option. However, if you recognize you are not getting what you need through diet alone, it is a good idea to ask your doctor or nutritionist what supplements and dosages he recommends. Always investigate before you begin a nutritional supplement regimen to make sure the latest studies demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of its use.

In conclusion I'd like to say thank you to you for reading this article and good luck with any issues related to this information.

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