It is a fact that majority of people in the United States take vitamin supplements everyday or occasionally to prevent most of the illnesses that’s been plaguing people in the last century or so.

But did you know that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not determine whether a dietary supplement is effective before it is marketed? Yes, it’s true. This means that if you are not careful, you could end up wasting your money on ineffective supplements, or worse, put your health at risk.

The following are some pointers from the US Office of Dietary Supplements on vitamin supplements:

1. Supplements can NEVER take the place of nutritious food sources

The key to maintaining good health, really, is to eat a variety of foods that are essential for good health because they are readily absorbed by the body. A lot of factors interfere with the absorbability of synthetic dietary and vitamin supplements. These include their molecular size, your body’s PH level, among others.

2. Some supplements still need to be evaluated

It’s been scientifically proven that supplementing with calcium and vitamin D is important for keeping your bones strong and preventing bone loss, that folic acid decreases the risk of some birth defects and that omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils can help people with heart disease.

However, all the other supplements need more clinical studies to prove their value or the lack of it. That said, you should not readily believe the claim on a product’s marketing copy. Instead, conduct your own research on its ingredients.

3. Always be aware of the side effects

There are some supplements that are harmful when taken with prescription medicine or when taken in combination with other vitamins. Some examples include the following:

• Vitamin K reduces the ability of Coumadin, a blood thinner, to prevent blood clotting.

• St. John’s wort can reduce the effectiveness of certain drugs by speeding up their breakdown.

• Antioxidant supplements like vitamins C and E can reduce the effectiveness of certain types of chemotherapy.

* Too much vitamin A causes headaches and liver damage, reduces bone strength, and causes birth defects.

* Excess iron causes nausea and vomiting and can damage the liver and other organs.

4. Most vitamin supplements have not been tested for safety

Be careful about giving and taking vitamin supplements beyond the basic multi-vitamin. Most of the dietary supplements in the market today have not been tested if they’re safe to use by pregnant women, nursing mothers and children.

Visit http://www.vitalnutritionals.com/ to know which vitamin supplement brands doctors believe are worth your money.

Author: Lyle Rutstein
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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