Facts about Supplements

A dietary supplement is defined as a product that is intended to supplement a person’s diet with additional vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs, and other substances. These supplements can be taken orally as pills, tablets, capsules, or liquids. They are also clearly labelled on their front panels as being supplements.

Whether a certain product gets classified as a drug, conventional food, or dietary supplement depends on its intended use. Often, a product gets classified as a dietary supplement based on the information that its manufacturer provides on its label. However, there are many dietary supplements which do not include this information in their labels. Furthermore, the types of claims that can be made by the manufacturers of these supplements may differ. Though companies cannot claim that their products will be able to cure or treat certain diseases, they can nevertheless make the following three claims: a health claim, a nutrient claim, and a structure or function claim.

A health claim can describe the relationship between components of a dietary supplement and the reduction of risk for certain diseases or health conditions. A nutrient claim, meanwhile, can describe the amount of a particular nutrient or substance found in the product. Lastly, a structure or function claim is usually a statement that describes how a product may affect certain organs or systems of the human body though it cannot mention specific diseases.

When you are shopping for dietary supplements that will help to improve your health, make sure that you select products made by well-regarded manufacturers and be wary of any exaggerated claims.