What are food supplements?

Supplements can have benefits for your health – but taking supplements can also lead to health risks. Authorities do not review and evaluate dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed.

What you need to know about dietary supplements

You've heard of them, may have used them, and may have even recommended them to friends or family. While some dietary supplements are well understood, others need further study. Read more for important information for you and your family about supplements.

However, as a general note, before making a decision on whether to take a supplement, consult a medical professional to see if you need a supplement to achieve the right balance of health benefits. the foods and nutrients you need, or just waste money, even bringing disease into your body.

Some supplements can help you get enough of the important substances your body needs to function.

What are food supplements?

Food supplements include ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, and enzymes. They are marketed in forms such as tablets, capsules, soft gels, gelcaps, powders, and liquids.

What are the benefits of dietary supplements?

Some supplements can help you get enough of the important substances your body needs to function; others may help reduce the risk of disease. But supplements shouldn't replace the complete meals needed for a healthy diet - so be sure to eat a variety of foods.

Unlike drugs, supplements are not permitted to be marketed for the purpose of treatment, diagnosis, prevention, or cure. That means supplements must not make health claims, such as 'reducing high cholesterol' or 'treating heart disease'.

Are there any risks with dietary supplements?

Have. Many supplements contain active ingredients that have powerful biological effects in the body. This can make them unsafe in some situations and cause injury or health complications. For example, the following actions can lead to harmful - even life-threatening consequences.

• Additional combinations
• Taking supplements with medications (whether prescription or over-the-counter)
• Alternative to prescription drugs
• Taking too much of certain supplements, such as vitamin A, vitamin D, or iron
• Some supplements can also have side effects before, during, and after surgery. So be sure to consult with your doctor about any supplements you're taking.

Some popular dietary supplements

• Calcium
• Echinacea
• Fish oil
• Ginseng
• Glucosamine and/or
• Chondroitin Sulphate
• Garlic
• Vitamin D
• St. John's Wort (banana)
• Saw Palmetto (dwarf palm)
• Ginkgo
• Tea

Who is responsible for the safety of functional foods?

Specialized authorities are not authorized to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed.

Therefore, it is the responsibility of the manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements to ensure their products are safe before they are put on the market.

If dietary supplements contain a new ingredient, manufacturers must notify the authorities about that ingredient before placing it on the market. However, the notice will only be reviewed (not approved) for safety, not effectiveness.

Manufacturers are required to manufacture supplements in a quality manner and ensure that they do not contain contaminants or impurities, and are correctly labeled according to Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). and current labeling.

If a serious supplement-related problem occurs, manufacturers must report it to the regulator as an adverse event. Regulators can take supplements off the market if they are found to be unsafe or if claims on the products are false and misleading.