Over the years, sales of supplements have steadily increased and billions of dollars have been spent on supplements each year.  More than 40% of Americans regularly take some sort of dietary supplement. Do we really know what we are taking? Are supplements safe?

In this series of blogs, Nutrition for You discusses the most popular supplements in the market today. We will talk about the pros and cons, which hopefully will help you in making an informed decision.

Are Supplements Safe?

Supplement safety is difficult to assess. Unlike drugs, the FDA does not regulate supplements.  There is no process that approves supplements before they are marketed and sold to the public and there are very few human trials done regarding supplement interactions. In addition, supplement manufacturers are not required by law to provide warnings or information about potential side effects. There are also no standards for potency or dosage. However, there are several websites that monitor supplement safety. One of them is MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. MedWatch alerts provide timely new safety information on human drugs, medical devices, vaccines, dietary supplements, and cosmetics. 

If you are considering taking supplements, Nutrition for You recommends that you talk to a health care professional first and get as much information as you can about the safety of these supplements.

Remember that it is always best to get all of the necessary vitamins, minerals and nutrients from whole foods first.  The best way to ensure your body is receiving all the nutrients it needs to be healthy is to eat a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, some dairy and heart-healthy fats.  Nutrition for You can put together a plan tailored to meet all of your nutritional needs.