Dietary Supplements

Unlike foods or prescription drugs, dietary supplements are manufactured and marketed with less government regulation than a Chinese toy. The FDA identifies its responsibility as only “post-market,” meaning that they’ll pull a product off the shelves if a problem comes to their attention. Fortunately, the nonprofit organization United States Pharmacopeia is taking on the task of verifying that the ingredients listed on supplement labels match what’s inside the bottles. Look for the USP-Verified Dietary Supplement mark.

“A lousy diet with supplements is still a lousy diet,” says Sari Greaves, a registered dietician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. “No amount of vitamin-popping will ensure good health unless you’re eating a healthy, balanced diet.”Greaves points out that in whole foods, vitamins and minerals interact synergistically to fortify the body. The many benefits of consuming nutrients by eating fruits and vegetables can’t be mimicked by downing isolated vitamins and minerals in pill form.

Though supplements can’t replace a good diet, they can help fill nutritional gaps. Says Greaves, “If you look at the statistics, Americans are not eating nearly enough fruits, vegetables or whole grains. That’s why a multivitamin with mineral is recommended. I tell people it’s like a safety net, an insurance policy.”

Look for multivitamins containing 100 percent of the daily value, abbreviated on labels as “DV.” The DV represents the amount one dose of a supplement contributes to meeting 100 percent of the vitamin or mineral intake most healthy Americans need each day.

In recent years, antioxidant supplements have been ballyhooed for their potential to ward off disease. However, when researchers reviewed data on people using supplements, they found that treatment with beta carotene, vitamin A, andvitamin E may actually increase mortality. The study appeared in the February 2007 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, and was followed up in August by another JAMA article linking selenium supplements with diabetes. The authors noted that 35 percent of the U.S. population takes multivitamin supplements that contain selenium.

“I wouldn’t advise anyone to go shopping for a supplement without first talking to a certified professional who can help determine if they need to take one,” Greaves says. Safety and efficacy are the two concerns on Greaves’ mind. A primary issue is contraindication; that is, certain prescription drugs should not be used in tandem with dietary supplements or their interaction may need to be carefully timed. Another concern is the possibility of exceeding recommended allowances, which can lead to serious health problems.

Taken advisedly, however, supplements can be helpful in resolving deficiencies and preventing a variety of conditions. For example, calcium supplements are frequently recommended to people over 50 to reduce bone loss. Fish oil supplements, rich in LDL cholesterol, are good for patients with heart disease. Even people cutting calories to lose weight, Greaves notes, may be wise to recoup lost micronutrients with the help of a supplement. “But you really have to take that extra step to ensure what you’re interested in is safe,” says Greaves. “You want to make sure they’re going to work, too, because a lot of these supplements will burn a hole in your wallet.”

Confused by health myths and misinformation? Each week, Rich Maloof talks to leading health experts to bring you the straight facts on a broad range of health topics.

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