In 2019, FDA released the Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List, which provides consumers with alerts about potentially hazardous chemical compounds in supplements. This cost-effective regulatory initiative will strengthen oversight and safeguard consumers from unsafe products.
Mandatory product listing would require manufacturers to report their goods and ingredients to FDA, giving the agency more power over fraudulence and protecting public health. This solution has gained wide support among consumers.
Nutrients
Generally, individuals can get all of the vitamins and minerals they need from a nutritious diet. Supplements may be beneficial in certain circumstances such as nutrient deficiencies, conditions affecting digestion or absorption, or for individuals during special life stages like pregnancy.
When selecting a dietary supplement, the most critical factor to consider is whether it will fulfill your nutrient need. Many supplements contain proprietary blends – combinations of various ingredients.
Nutrient deficiencies can usually be remedied through changes in diet, such as increasing fruits and vegetables or decreasing sugar consumption. People who are overweight or obese may benefit from taking a multivitamin and/or multimineral supplement; for further details, speak with a healthcare professional for further advice.
Herbs
Herbs can be beneficial to health issues and overall well-being. You can find them in a variety of products such as pills, powders, lozenges and liquids.
Herbals and botanicals are sold as dietary supplements and not subject to the same stringent regulation as pharmaceutical drugs, meaning they have not undergone as extensive testing for safety or effectiveness.
Medical herbs have long been used to treat illnesses and prevent diseases; however, there is not enough scientific research about their benefits or risks to prove their effectiveness. They should always be used under the supervision of a qualified health care provider such as a pharmacist or doctor.
Read product labels carefully and select brands that have been tested for consistency in dosage by looking for United States Pharmaceopia (USP) or National Formulary (NF) symbols. Furthermore, ensure there is minimal potential drug interaction with your medications when selecting a supplement.
Other Ingredients
Supplements may also contain other ingredients, such as fillers, emulsifiers, capsules, sweeteners and preservatives. These “Other Ingredients” will usually be listed in the Supplement Facts panel on the label after the list of Active Ingredients.
What more could one want from their retirement plan? With so much available, why not enjoy life to the fullest? In a dietary supplement list, ingredients must be listed in descending weight order with a hairline rule centered between lines of text (e.g., if calcium is derived from algae, then it should be listed under “Calcium (as calcium carbonate) from Lithothamnion”). Other ingredients must also be declared for their (b(2)-dietary) components, including total calories, fat calories, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber/sugars/protein vitamin A/C/calcium and iron. Some ingredients have established Daily Values while others do not; the DV for those without an established value should be indicated with an asterisk in the column.
Other Information
Your dietary supplement label doesn’t just have to include calorie counts. For instance, if your product contains vitamin C (ascorbic acid), be sure to mention it’s one of the essential dietary vitamins. Other must-haves include sodium, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, sugars and protein as well as their DV (days worth) values. When creating this information be sure to consider which items to include and in what order. You could also opt for visual or textual presentation which makes your supplement stand out among competitors.
