Dietary Supplements

The Dietary Supplements topic includes research on the discovery and health effects of products intended for ingestion that contain a dietary ingredient, such as a vitamin, mineral, herb, amino acid, or metabolite, that is meant to add nutritional value to the diet.

Many people take vitamins or dietary supplements to support their health and well-being. Supplements come in different forms, including pills, tablets, capsules, powders, and liquids.

Dietary supplements can help you get essential nutrients if you don’t eat a variety of nutritious foods. However, they can’t replace the wide range of foods that are important to a healthy eating routine.

Many supplements contain active ingredients that can have side effects if you take them at high doses, if you take them instead of prescribed medicines, or if you take many different supplements. Some dietary supplements may interact with medications (prescription or over the counter) or other dietary supplements.

Dietary supplements are not intended to prevent, treat, or cure illnesses or diseases. Unlike drugs and medications, dietary supplements do not require approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before they can be sold or marketed.