DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS REPORT

Dietary Supplements Report

Timothy Lewanda
Sci/241
7/15/2012

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS REPORT

What are dietary supplements? Well, many people do not understand the concept of supplements. Instead of taking these supplements to supplement their meal they take them in place of a meal. Dietary supplements are to add vitamins and minerals to your diet that you do not receive in your meal. According to www.dictionary .com A dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. Dietary supplements can be very beneficial, if taken properly. They may be used to treat a simple deficiency, such as an iron deficiency, but sometimes they're used therapeutically to treat specific health conditions or risk factors. For example, large doses of niacin may be used to raise good cholesterol, and folic acid has been used to reduce the risk of birth defects. Taking too much of any supplement can be quite risky and pose a lot of side effects. It is important that we research the benefits of what we are taking certain supplements for and not to overdose on how many we take. Dietary supplements are not regulated as drugs, in the United States, because manufactures do not have to prove that use of the supplements are either safe or effective. The Food and Drug Administration does set a few guide lines and regarding labeling and the claims that can be made about the supplements. The FDA states, The claim can be made that a dietary supplement addresses a nutritional deficiency, supports health, or reduces the risk for a specific health problem when there is enough evidence to support that claim. Manufactures must also use this statement, This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and this product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. After that being said, there are many risk factors that dietary supplements can pose on your body. For example,

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS REPORT

the fat-soluble vitamins A and D can build up to toxic levels in your body when taken in large doses over long periods of time. Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin, so your body doesn't store it as easily as a fat-soluble vitamin, but extended use of large doses can cause nerve damage. Large doses of Vitamin C may cause diarrhea. Mineral supplements can be dangerous as well. For example, both selenium and iron supplements can be toxic in large amounts. Some dietary supplements can interact with over-the-counter or prescription medications, or even with each other, and some supplements should be avoided before undergoing surgery. You should always speak with your health care provider before taking any dietary supplements beyond basic multi vitamins. A good health condition that I can think of as an example of a supplement aiding in a cure is Anemia. Approximately 3.5 million Americans are affected by this health condition. When the number of red blood cells or concentrations of hemoglobin are low a person is said to have anemia. Hemoglobin is a protein inside the red blood cells that contains iron and transports oxygen. Iron plays a key role in the making of red blood cells, which carry oxygen. Iron supplements are often used for certain types of anemia. No one should attempt to self-treat an anemic condition until they have been evaluated by a medical doctor to look for causes of the anemia. There is good evidence that iron supplements can treat anemia caused by: pregnancy, heavy menstrual periods, kidney disease, and chemotherapy. There are many charts that can be found that regulate the dosage of iron supplements that people with this health condition should take. The chart says that children should take about 8 mg a day, females 14-50 years age should take about 16 mg a day ( unless pregnant which it should be 27 mg), and males should take 9 mgs a day. Some anemia treatment agents can have an increased risk of blood clots and even cause death in cancer patients.

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS REPORT

It is always important that we consult a doctor before taking any type of supplements or medication to make sure that we are taking it for the right reasons and so we can make sure that we are taking the right dosage. Supplements are meant to add to our daily nutrition and minerals that we get from food, and we are not supposed to take dietary supplements in place of a meal.

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS REPORT

References:
Office of Dietary Supplements (2011) Retrieved by, http://ods.od.nih.gov U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2012) Retrieved by, http://www.fda.gov MediLexicon International Ltd (2004-2012) Retrieved by, http://www.medicalnewstoday.com