In recent years, many people have taken to using dietary supplements with or without doctor’s prescription. In many health facilities, doctors tend to include some of these supplements in their prescriptions for patients frequently because they want to provide nutrients that may otherwise not be consumed in sufficient quantities in foods by the affected patients. These supplements generallyinclude vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, or amino acids, among other substances. In some countries, eg, United States, the supplements are defined as foods, while elsewhere they may be classified as drugs or other products. As at today, there are more than 50,000 dietary supplements available worldwide and more than half of the United States’ adult population (53% - 55%) consume dietary supplements with most common ones being multivitamins. [1,2].
Dietary supplements are unnecessary if one eats a balanced diet [3]. Many supplements including glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega-3 fatty acids, have been reported to have no beneficial effects [3]. However, there is a scientific evidence to support the fact that supplements of beta-Carotene and Vitamin E increase mortality while other antioxidants, B vitamins, folic acid or minerals and multivitamin supplements fail to decrease mortality, as well as morbidity to major chronic diseases even though, vitamin D supplements may be useful and is recommended in Nordic countries because of the weak sunlight [4-6].
There are indications that dietary supplements may cause harm in several ways, including drug-drug and food drug interactions, over-consumption, particularly of minerals and fat-soluble vitamins which can build up in the body [3,6,7].
References
Last updated: 11 May 2014
Highlights
In recent years, many people have taken to using dietar ..read more
In recent years, many people have taken to using dietar ..read more
In recent years, many people have taken to using dietar ..read more
In recent years, many people have taken to using dietar ..read more