Staying Safe With Supplements
Many people believe that vitamins and supplements products are regulated in a way that’s similar to medications and other drugs. However, the FDA regulates dietary supplements as food, not drugs. Because of this, the risks of these products are often unknown and unpredictable. In this post, we’re discussing smart supplement use and resources to help educate and equip individuals to make healthier decisions when it comes to supplements.
Products of a Billion Dollar Industry
Surveys show that over half of adults in the US take dietary supplements, contributing to a growing industry worth over $150 billion. Because they’re regulated as food, not medicine, manufacturers can put anything they believe to be safe onto the market, without proving their safety or effectiveness beforehand. The FDA's role is to identify products that are causing harm only after they've been on the market and prevent them from being sold further.
Another problem with this lack of regulation manifests in dangerous marketing. Supplement marketing is technically regulated — companies are not allowed to make false claims like saying a supplement treats or prevents a certain disease. However, supplement marketers are able to tweak their language and get away with very misleading claims. And since there hasn’t been very heavy policing of this industry up to this point, many of the claims marketers make border the line of simply being false. Combined with the fact that many people do not understand the potential side effects, proper dosage instructions, and drug interactions these supplements can have, this type of marketing can be extremely dangerous for one’s health.
Not All Supplements Are Bad
Some conditions and health statuses can greatly benefit from dietary supplements, so it’s not that all supplementation is bad. They can be useful in many cases as long as they’re taken properly and the consumer is well-informed. With so many new ingredients being introduced and poor communication of health risks, the FDA recommends that people speak with their doctor, pharmacist, or other health care professional before trying a new dietary supplement.
Brand New From the FDA: Supplement Your Knowledge
Just this year, the FDA went one step further by starting an education initiative surrounding dietary supplements called Supplement Your Knowledge. The trusted online resource provides an abundance of downloadable educational sheets and videos to help consumers and others better understand the supplement industry, how to talk to your doctor about supplements, reporting adverse effects, and more.
Acknowledging an information gap and creating an initiative to close that gap puts us one step closer towards healthier and safer use of dietary supplements. We urge you and your loved ones to check out the online resource to become better informed consumers for yourself and others.
