Nutrition 1000 Chapter 8.16
According to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, a supplement in the United States is a product intended to supplement the diet that bears or contains one or more of the following ingredients:
A vitamin A mineral An herb or another botanical An amino acid A dietary substance to supplement the diet, which could be an extract or a combination of the first four ingredients in this list
what are some reasons that people take supplements?
Reducing susceptibility to health problems (e.g., colds Preventing heart attacks Preventing cancer Reducing stress Increasing "energy"
Does the FDA protect us from supplements?
Supplements can be sold without proof that they are safe and effective. Unless FDA has evidence that a supplement is inherently dangerous or marketed with an illegal claim, it will not regulate such products closely. Thus, we cannot rely on FDA to protect us from vitamin and mineral supplement overuse and misuse. We bear that responsibility ourselves, with the help of professional advice from a physician or registered dietitian.
who may benefit from folic acid
Women of childbearing age (especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding)
How should you choose your multivitamin?
choose a nationally recognized brand 100% nutrient need taken with or just after meals to maximize absorption Make sure also that intake from the total of this supplement, any other supplements used, and highly fortified foods (such as ready-to-eat breakfast cereals) provides no more than the Upper Level for each vitamin and mineral Avoid superfluous ingredients, such as para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), hesperidin complex, inositol, bee pollen, and lecithins. These are not needed in our diets.
can supplements claim to prevent, cure, or treat a disease?
no
who may benefit from various B vitamins
people who abuse alcohol
who may benefit from vitamin C
smokers
who may benefit from zinc
strict vegans
why do most cases of nutrient toxicity occur?
supplement use
is the dietary supplement business successful?
yes its a multi billion dollar and growing industry
who may benefit from vitamin K
• Newborns (given by injection shortly after birth)
who may benefit from vitamin B-12
• Older adults • Strict vegans
who may benefit from MVM
• People who consume <1200 kilocalories per day (e.g., some women and older adults) • People with unbalanced or inadequate diets (e.g., in cases of food insecurity or children who are "picky" eaters) • People with malabsorptive diseases • People who take medications that interfere with nutrient absorption or metabolism
who may benefit from vitamin E
• People who follow diets low in fat (especially low in plant oils)
who may benefit from vitamin D
• People with limited milk intake (due to allergies or lactose intolerance) • People with limited exposure to sunlight (e.g., all infants, many African-Americans, and some older adults) • Strict vegans
who may benefit from fluoride
• Some older infants and children (as directed by a dentist)
who may benefit from calcium
• Strict vegans • Older adults with bone loss
who may benefit from iron
• Women with excessive bleeding during menstruation • Women who are pregnant • Strict vegans