Introduction to

nutritional supplements
A nutritional supplement is a certain product that contains dietary
Ingredients intended to supplement once current diet.

The dietary ingredients in these various products can include Vitamins,

minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids and
substances such as enzymes, organ tissues ,glandular and metabolites.
(FDA Gov, 2014)
Who needs Supplements
 Women who is pregnant should get 400 micrograms a day
of folic acid from fortified foods or supplements, in addition
to eating foods that naturally contain folate.
 Women who are pregnant should take a prenatal vitamin
that includes iron or a separate iron supplement.
 Adults age 50 or older should eat foods fortified with vitamin
B-12, such as fortified cereals, or take a multivitamin that
contains B-12 or a separate B-12 supplement.
 Adults age 65 and older should take 800 international units
of vitamin D daily to reduce the risk of falls.
 Dietary supplements also may be inappropriate if you:
 Don't eat well or consume fewer calories than needed
 Are a vegan or a vegetarian who eats a limited variety of foods
 Follow any other type of diet that restricts an entire category of
foods
 Don't obtain two to three servings a week of seafood, which
supplies omega-3 fatty acids for heart health
 Have limited milk intake due to lactose intolerance or milk allergy,
or simply don't consume enough dairy foods
Supplements vs. whole foods
 Supplements aren't intended to substitute for food. They
can't replicate all of the nutrients and benefits of whole
foods, such as fruits and vegetables.
 Greater nutrition. Whole foods are complex, containing a
variety of the micronutrients your body needs.
 Essential fibre. Whole foods, such as whole grains, fruits,
vegetables and legumes, provide dietary fibre.
 Protective substances. Many whole foods are also good
sources of antioxidants — substances that slow down a
natural process leading to cell and tissue damage.
Recommended levels of daily intake for
Several important nutrients
Pros
 Dietary supplements aid in promoting optimal health. Since it
may be difficult for some people to obtain all of the proper
amounts of essential vitamins and minerals every day, the
percent daily value (DV), nutritional supplements help fill the
gaps. Filling in the gaps is an important preventative measure to
maintain good health.
 If you are someone who eats on the run, or someone’s whose
parenting or work schedule prohibits sitting down at the table for
a well-balanced meal every day, supplements can ensure you
the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs.
 In addition, some supplements are necessary if you have specific
diet restrictions, such as being vegan or vegetarian when some
nutrients may be harder to consume. In addition to food sources,
it may be important to take a B-12 supplement to compliment
your diet in the case of restricting animal by-products.
Cons
 Despite how useful nutritional supplements may be, there are
some cons to be aware of. These dietary supplements aren’t
meant to be a food replacement—this is the most important thing
you need to remember. There are many types of vitamins and
minerals that are found in food that supplements can’t provide.
 Phytochemicals, for example, are best found in food sources
such as whole foods, grains, fruits, and vegetables. It is
important not to rely on your nutritional supplement to provide all
of your daily nutritional needs. If supplements are taken in too
high amounts, there is potential for toxicity.
 Additionally, if you are taking more than one dietary supplement,
it is important to monitor the amount you consume to not exceed
your daily amount.
 The most important thing to remember when using supplements
is to monitor your body. If you feel your body is not accepting the
supplement well, monitor and adjust until you find what works for
you.
Addressing nutritional gaps with mvms
 A balanced and varied diet is the best way to get essential
vitamins and minerals but may even still lead to
micronutrient deficiency.
 The role of MVMS in preventing chronic diseases and
improving health is doubtful and needs further research.
 As against single vitamin supplements MVMS are found to
be in low risk of mortality, cerebrovascular diseases or
heart failure particularly in older generation.
 There are times throughout the
life cycle where certain nutrients
have more role like iron in pregnancy
vitamin B12 after 50 yrs.
What’s MVMS ?

 The NIH defines MVMS as supplements that consists of 3 or

more micronutrients at doses less than the tolerable
upper level determined by food and nutritional board and
are free of herbs, hormones or drugs.
 But then in common market availability MVMS doesn’t
restrict itself to 3 but contains a host of vitamis like the
entire B complex etc
Nutritional adequacy

 The US DGA advices that “Nutrients should be met

primarily through consuming foods” but “in certain cases
fortified foods and dietary supplements maybe useful in
providing one or more nutrients that otherwise might be
consumed in less than recommended amounts”.
 The DGA cites 4 nutrients of underconsumption that
causes concern : potassium, fiber, calcium, and vitamin D.
 But in an Indian population rather than vit D deficiency
Folic acid , Iron and vit B12 are more concerning.
HIDDEN HUNGER
 Hidden hunger is status where the person has adequate calorie
consumption but lacks in micronutrient intake.
 This is largely due eating patterns dominated by energy rich
nutrient poor food which is relatively inexpensive.
 Some people are also at risk due to excessive losses, abnormal
metabolism, or inadequate synthesis.
 Even borderline deficiencies have been linked to stunded
growth and neurocognitive deficits.
 MVM supplementation varying in vitamin content and doses
have been found instrumental in addressing nutritional gaps in
populations with relatively bountiful and balanced food supply.
INDIAN SCENARIO

 According to NFSH III data, 63% of children in

urban areas are found to be anemic and 55% of
women, 24% of men are found to be anemic.
 The 3 strategies for addressing these concerns are
• MVMS supplementation
• Dietary diversification
• fortification
EVOLVING ROLE OF MVMS
 The concerns regarding consumption of MVMS above the
upper tolerable level has to be addressed
 As an example excess intake of folic acid may cause
untoward consequences like neurological damage in
patient of pernicious anemia.
 The advent of nutrigenomics enabled the direct study of
interactions between nutrition and genetic variants and
expressions which lead to progress in the field of
personalised nutrition.
Keep up with supplement safety alerts
 Being sold in the marketplace doesn't make a supplement
safe or effective.
 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) keeps a list of
dietary supplements that are under regulatory review or that
have been reported to cause adverse effects. If you're
taking a supplement, it's a good idea to check the FDA
website periodically for updates.
 Keep in mind, though, that the FDA doesn't regulate or
oversee vitamin and supplement content or claims to the
same degree as it does prescription medications.
 If you think that a dietary supplement may have caused you
to have a serious reaction or illness, stop using the product
and fill out a safety report through the Safety Reporting
Portal website.