Basic Diet Supplement Information

There's much confusion among the public about what constitutes a diet supplement, when they are used, and who oversees them. Some basic information on diet supplements follow.

By  Rolf Rasmusson

Diet Supplement - when are they used?

Why diet supplement is so important? Many people nowadays follow some type of diet. That diet usually means eating specific quantities of some healthy foods, exercising, etc. Some type of diet supplement is used either when the diet doesn't provide for adequate intake of necessary nutrition, vitamins, and minerals, or if the person doesn't want to or is not able to follow a specific diet.

Diet Supplement - what is it?

Diet supplement term usually means some product made of one or more of the fundamental nutrients, for example vitamins, minerals, and proteins. It is not a drug. It can not fully replace some type of diet, as supplement does not provide all the recognized nutritional benefits of foods. What it does, it provides you with some specific (or a mix of) vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, amino acids, metabolites, etc.

Diet Supplement - safety.

According to FDA staff, FDA oversees safety, manufacturing and product information, such as claims, in a products labeling, package inserts, and accompanying literature. The Federal Trade Commission regulates the advertising of dietary supplements.

Again, according to FDA staff, as with food, federal law requires manufacturers of dietary supplements to ensure that the products they put on the market are safe. But supplement manufacturers do not have to provide information to FDA to get a product on the market. FDA review and approval of supplement ingredients and products is not required before marketing.

Be careful when purchasing some type of dietary supplement. Read the label carefully, look at the ingredients. You should also consult with your doctor to check if some dietary supplement is right for you. Try a well designed diet before you turn to dietary supplements. Also, many supplements work better when taken together, and others, when taken separately.

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