Dietary supplements: Difference between revisions

Dietary supplements are products that are intended to provide additional nutrients to the body or to supplement the diet.  

==Types==

They come in various forms, such as capsules, tablets, powders, and liquids, and can contain [[vitamins]], [[minerals]], [[herbs]], [[amino acids]], [[enzymes]], or other ingredients. Dietary supplements are popular, with more than half of adults in the United States taking them regularly. However, there are concerns about their safety and efficacy, and consumers should be aware of the risks and benefits of using these products.

==Information is key==

To reduce the risks associated with taking dietary supplements, it is important to be an informed consumer. The FDA recommends that consumers talk to their healthcare provider before taking any supplements, especially if they are pregnant or nursing, taking prescription medications, or have a chronic health condition. Consumers should also read supplement labels carefully, looking for information about the ingredients, dosage, and potential side effects. They should also look for supplements that have been tested and certified by third-party organizations, such as the United States Pharmacopeia or ConsumerLab.com.

==Balanced diet==

However, it is important to remember that dietary supplements are not a substitute for a healthy, balanced diet. It is always best to obtain nutrients from whole foods whenever possible.

* [[BRT]] Botanical Review Team of the Center for Drug Evaluation Research of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). BRT provides scientific expertise on botanical issues to CDER's reviewing staff and ensures consistent interpretation of FDA's "Guidance for Industry: Botanical Drug Products."

* [[Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition]] CFSAN, US Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services. CFSAN is responsible for developing policy and regulations for dietary supplements.

* [[Dietary Guidelines for Americans]] Advice from the federal government to promote health and reduce the chance (risk) of long-lasting (chronic) diseases through nutrition and physical activity. The Guidelines are updated and published every 5 years by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture.

* [[ER-negative]] Estrogen receptor negative (ER-). Having to do with breast cancer cells that do not have a protein (a receptor molecule) to which estrogen will attach. Breast cancer cells that are ER- do not need the hormone estrogen to grow and usually do not respond to hormone (antiestrogen) therapy that blocks these receptor sites.

* [[Food Composition and Methods Development Laboratory]] FCMDL, US Department of Agriculture. The mission of FCMDL is to develop innovative measurement systems for the determination of food components that influence human health.

* [[HDL cholesterol]] Good cholesterol. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is a type of protein that carries excess cholesterol from the arteries to the liver to be removed from the body.

* [[Hamilton anxiety scale]] A rating system that is used to measure the severity of the symptoms of anxiety (including worrying, restlessness, fearfulness, trouble sleeping, poor concentration or memory, depression, aches and pains, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, and impotence).

* [[IQ]] Intelligence quotient. A person’s score on a standardized intelligence test.

* [[cardiovascular system]] The heart, blood, and blood vessels.

* [[case report]] A detailed record of the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of an individual patient. Case reports also contain some information about the patient (such as age, gender, and ethnic origin).

* [[cataract]] A condition in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. Symptoms include blurred, cloudy, or double vision; sensitivity to light; and difficulty seeing at night. Without treatment, cataracts can cause blindness. Cataracts occur in people of all ages but are most common in the elderly.

* [[cell differentiation]] The process during which young, immature (unspecialized) cells take on individual characteristics and reach their mature (specialized) form and function. For example, unspecialized cells differentiate to become nerve cells, muscle cells, blood cells, or other specialized tissue cells.

* [[cytology]] The study of cells using a microscope (a device that uses a combination of lenses to make enlarged images of tiny objects).

* [[cytotoxic]] Cell-killing.

* [[dairy food]] Milk and products made with milk, such as buttermilk, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, and ice cream.

* [[data]] Facts and information.

* [[fortified]] When nutrients (such as vitamins and minerals) are added to a food product. For example, when calcium is added to orange juice, the orange juice is said to be "fortified with calcium". Similarly, many breakfast cereals are "fortified" with several vitamins and minerals.

* [[fracture]] A break, for example, a bone fracture.

* [[fragile]] Easily broken.

* [[fukinolic acid]] A component of black cohosh.

* [[malnourished]] Describes a condition caused by not getting enough calories or the right amount of key nutrients needed for health. Key nutrients include vitamins and minerals.

* [[malnutrition]] A disorder caused by a diet that does not provide enough nutrition, an unbalanced diet, a digestive system that does not work properly, or a problem with absorbing or using nutrients.

* [[mast cell]] A type of white blood cell.

* [[mechanism of action]] The means by which a substance (such as a dietary supplement) is able to produce an effect in the body.

* [[retinoid]] A category of vitamin A compounds. The retinoids include retinol, retinal, and retinoic acid. Synthetic retinoids are manufactured for use in treating acne, psoriasis, and other skin disorders.

* [[retinol binding protein]] RBP. A molecule that binds to retinol (the form of vitamin A in foods that come from animals) and carries it through the blood to tissues where it is used, and to the liver where it is stored.

* [[retinol]] A form of vitamin A found only in foods that come from animals. The body can use retinol to make retinal and retinoic acid (other forms of vitamin A). Retinol is found in some foods, including beef liver, whole eggs, whole milk, margarine, and some fortified food products such as breakfast cereals. Retinol is a retinoid. Also called preformed vitamin A.

* [[retinyl ester]] A form in which newly absorbed retinol (the form of vitamin A in foods that come from animals) is stored in the body.