18 Years of Experience in Psychiatry Acupuncture and Micronutrients
Today's dietary supplements make some mighty big promises: Stop aging! Lose weight without dieting! Burn fat in your sleep!
Unfortunately, it's hard to sort through the hype, particularly in a category that ranges from vitamins and minerals to herbs and specialty supplements. Normal healthy adults should be able to get all the nutrients they need from a good diet. Supplementing can be smart for certain individuals, such as pregnant women or the elderly. But while vitamins and minerals help maintain good health, their role is unclear when it comes to fighting disease.
Although studies have shown that people who eat plenty of fruits and vegetables have a lower risk of cancer, clinical trials using supplements such as beta-carotene have shown little, if any, reduction in risk. Herbal supplements are defined as dietary supplements, and escape the regulatory oversight given to food and drugs. There is no testing requirement for proof of safety and efficacy, no guarantee that what's listed on the label is in the product, and no assurance of quality control.
There are other safety concerns to consider with herbal and specialty supplements. Consumers often assume that "natural" products are safe, but that's just not the case. Any time you take a product, it's possible to have an allergic reaction.
Drug interactions are another important issue. Combining large doses of vitamin E, ginkgo, ginseng or garlic with medications that thin the blood -- like prescription warfarin or even aspirin -- could increase the risk for serious bleeding problems.
In addition, keep in mind that natural and synthetic vitamins are basically the same thing. If you think about it, nothing that comes in a pill form is "natural." Mother Nature created a bunch of crazy stuff, but she managed to stay away from tablet and gel cap production.
Basically, synthetic vitamins are just cheaper to make. A vitamin's price doesn't reflect its potency. Higher priced vitamins aren't any better than the bargain variety. Consider the name of the manufacturer or distributor. Supplements made by a nationally known food and drug manufacturer, for example, are more likely to have been made under tight controls because these companies already have set in place manufacturing standards for their other products.
It's fine to buy supplements containing sugar and starch. These are sometimes added to ensure better nutrient absorption. Store brands may be just as good as name brands. Bet you didn't know that both brands could even be made by the same manufacturer. Store brands are usually less expensive because you're not paying for advertising.
These articles are not intended as Medical advice, and the author assumes no responsibility for actions taken based on the information contained in this article. If Medical advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.