Dietary Supplements: Expectations Versus Reality

Dietary supplements are regulated as foods and not as drugs, so they do not claim to cure, treat or prevent any disease. These dietary supplements are also not evaluated for the quality or their effect on body. So if a supplement is found to be unsafe, it is just banned from further distribution.

Although the manufacturers are responsible for accurately mentioning the nutrient list and their amounts present in each serving size, there is no authorized agency that ensures that labels match the contents of the bottle. As a result, there may be a risk of getting less, or more of what is mentioned and there may be a case that all the nutrients are not listed properly on labels. Though there are a few independent organizations which conduct quality tests of the supplements and offer their seals of approval, this does not guarantee that the product is totally safe. It just assures that the product contains the listed nutrients in the right amount.

For example, earlier research suggested that intake of Vitamin E by men might lower the risk of prostate cancer but a recent study conducted on around 29000 men found that taking vitamin E supplements actually raised and not reduced the risk of this disease.

On the other hand, some studies have proven that nutrient supplements like calcium, iron and vitamins B, C and D can enhance health in many ways. For example, calcium is good for supporting bone health, vitamin D - for helping the body absorb calcium, vitamin B12 — to keep nerve and blood cells healthy and vitamins C and E as antioxidants.

Picking A Supplement

While picking an over the counter vitamin or mineral supplement, check the following:

• Labels: Product labels usually tell the ingredients and their quantity in each serving size like a capsule, a packet or a teaspoonful etc. It’s better to read the labels carefully before putting the bottle in your cart.
• Expiry and Manufacturing Dates: The dietary supplements may lose their effectiveness over time especially in humid and hot weather conditions. If the supplement has no expiry date, it’s better not to buy it and even if the companies claim that the supplements are herbal and will not get expired, discard them after their expiry dates.
• Balance of all: Prefer opting for a multivitamin or multi-mineral supplements which has all the vitamins and minerals adding up to 100 percent of the daily value than the one which has one vitamin in excessive dose and other nutrients in low doses (unless and until prescribed by a doctor).
• Foods consumed: Nowadays, vitamins and minerals are being added to a lot of food products like breakfast cereals, health drinks, milk etc. If you are adding up your diet with these supplements, there may be a case that you will be getting more than what is required. Taking something in excess can do more harm than good. For example, too much of iron in diet may cause nausea and may damage liver and other organs.

See Also: Too Many Dietary Supplements May Jeopardize Your Health

Remember that dietary supplements cannot replace well balanced and healthy diet. If you feel that you don’t have a healthy diet, it’s better to shift focus on eating right rather than opting for a multivitamin. Healthy diet works better than any supplements in reducing your risk of chronic diseases and keeping you healthy and active.