Dietary Supplements –
Questions Answered

By L.L. Locker

There are many claims about dietary supplements: they can help you feel better, lose weight, improve your memory, and give you an energy boost. But as with many claims, it’s important for you to know firsthand that you can safely use them.

There are all sorts of dietary supplements: vitamins, minerals, herbals, botanicals, amino acids, and enzymes. Others you hear about are: black cohosh, ginger, echinacea, fiber, garlic, ginkgo biloba, St. John’s Wort, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C. And the list
goes on.

Basically, dietary supplements help those who do not eat balanced diets to get enough essential nutrients; they should not be taken to treat or prevent diseases. While there is scientific evidence supporting the benefits of some dietary supplements (such as vitamins and minerals) for certain health conditions, others need further study.

Unlike medications, dietary supplements are not approved by the Federal Drug Administration for effectiveness and safety. It is the responsibility of the manufacturers to ensure that their products are safe, and that label claims are accurate and truthful.

“Makers of the supplements can voluntarily submit their products for inspection to verify that the ingredients they claim are in the supplement are actually there,” said Melita Croom, PharmD, of the University Missouri at Kansas City (UMKC) Drug Information Center.

UMKC researches the claims, using information from past trials, studies and research available on the ingredients in the supplements. Then using evidence based information, they determine the effectiveness of the claim. Sometimes after research, the caller is referred back to their health care provider. Many supplements contain active ingredients that can have strong effects in the body. Taking a combination of supplements, or substituting them in place of prescribed medicines, could lead to harmful, even life threatening results.

Remember, it is important to let your doctor and other health professionals know about the vitamins, minerals, botanicals, and other products you are taking, especially before surgery.

For more information about dietary supplements, you can contact UMKC Drug Information Center at 816-235-5490, Call Center hours are 9:00am - 4:00pm, or email your questions to umkcdruginformation@umkc.edu.

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