What are Diet Supplements?
A diet supplement, broadly defined, is any vitamin, mineral, herb, botanical, amino acid, or dietary substance to supplement the diet (by increasing dietary intake), and any combination of those things just listed.
Under Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation, the diet supplement must be labeled as a “dietary supplement” and not “represented for use as a conventional food or as the sole item of a meal or diet.”
Diet Supplement Regulation
Because the FDA regulates food and drugs, dietary supplements do not fall under its regulation. This means that supplement manufacturers are not required to prove the safety or effectiveness of their products, though the FDA can act if any substance is deemed harmful. Additionally, both purity and quality of the said dietary supplements ingredients are not regulated. This makes thorough consumer research even more important, which deciding if a dietary supplement will be right for you.
Diet Supplement Claims
While the FDA tightly regulates the claims made by supplement companies, these same companies can make broad-based claims, such as “[Product X] aids the digestive tract.” If you find a supplement company that cannot substantiate their claims through customer feedback or clinical studies, it’s best to shy away from them.
Diet Supplements Overall Conclusion
There are many dietary supplements available that offer great, healthy benefits. There are also some that are ineffective because of the ingredient, quality, potency, or dosage, or any number of other factors. You’re well-advised to do your research and rely on clinical studies to back up your choices.
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