Supplements
What is a supplement?
A supplement, by definition, is something added to the diet to make up for a nutritional deficiency. It is not intended as a substitute for eating well.
What They Are NOT
Anything classified as a dietary supplement is not required to meet any FDA or other standards. There are no regulations that guarantee the safety or purity of something sold as a supplement. Supplements ARE NOT:
- Required to meet similar safety requirements as over-the-counter or prescription drugs or food ingredients
- Held to any manufacturing standards
- Guaranteed to meet product potency or purity ratings
- Required to prove the effectiveness of any health claim they make
- Required to meet safety or efficacy testing prior to going to the market
As the FDA is prohibited from removing a product from the market unless it can prove that the product will cause a medical problem, most health risks of untested supplements are discovered after the product is on the market. One could rightly assume that you, the consumer, are the 'test group' for these products. In fact, many products are pulled off of the shelf after serious health risks or death are tied to the use of the product.
