What are dietary supplements?

Taking Control Of Your Diabetes (TCOYD)

Dietary supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and other nutrients that are used to complement your diet. However, just because they aren’t labeled as “drugs” doesn’t mean they can’t have significant effects on your body, both good and bad.

It is important to remember that there are many supplements on the market today that have no medicinal benefits and, in certain circumstances, can cause some harmful effects.

This content originally appeared in the Taking Control of Your Diabetes newsletter on tcoyd.org.

Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine

Dietary supplements are products you can eat or drink that claim to add nutritional value to the diet. A dietary supplement may include any of the following (this is just a sampling): a vitamin, mineral, herb or other botanical, amino acid.

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Dietary Supplements

Whether you're visiting the drug store, grocery or natural food shop you'll likely find an aisle where there are jars and bottles of things for you to put in your body that are neither foods nor medicines. Ranging from vitamins and minerals to fiber and herbal remedies, these supplements are not regulated in the same way as either food or medicine. Some of them are backed by solid research, others are folk remedies or proprietary cures. If your diet does not include enough of certain vitamins or minerals, a supplement may be a good idea. Natural treatment for conditions like constipation may be effective. But because these substances are unregulated, it is always a good idea to educate yourself about the products and to use common sense when taking them. This is even more true if you are pregnant or taking a medicine that may be affected by supplements.

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