Dietary Supplements Harvard Health

No wonder people are confused.

Dietary supplements harvard health. A supplement manufacturer can submit its products for analysis by usp to verify its ingredients identity strength quality and purity. Moreover supplement makers can claim their products enhance health despite a dearth of evidence in most cases. David eisenberg adjunct associate professor at the harvard t h. Chan school of public health.

Supplements are never a substitute for a balanced healthful diet says dr. Every day about half of all american adults swallow a dietary supplement a vitamin mineral herb amino acid or other substance. Manufacturers can sell these products without submitting evidence of their purity potency safety or efficacy. Supplements for three common conditions harvard health certain herbs vitamins minerals and other compounds may help control cholesterol blood pressure and anxiety.

The value of folic acid supplements in preventing cancer and heart disease which had been suggested by studies 20 years ago has not been confirmed by randomized trials wrote dr. Look for the usp verified mark on the product. The use of supplements and other alternatives to standard treatments is centuries old but dr. Joann manson a professor of medicine at harvard medical school and professor of epidemiology at harvard s t h.

Chan school of public health was the first to document the widespread use of alternative therapies in the united states. Anthony komaroff on harvard health publishing in 2015. People who take supplements tend to be more health conscious exercise more eat healthier diets and have a whole host of lifestyle factors that can be. In 1994 the dietary supplement health and education act sharply restricted the fda s ability to regulate products marketed as dietary supplements even though most people buy them for health not nutrition.

As a service to our readers harvard health publishing provides access to. This organization also tests dietary supplements. A few supplements show limited possible benefits for people with heart disease. And they can be a distraction from healthy lifestyle practices that confer much greater benefits what the science shows.

Folic acid supplements protect against babies being born with neural tube defects. The dietary supplement and health education act of 1994 dshea was intended to meet the concerns of consumers and manufacturers to help ensure that safe and appropriately labeled products including dietary supplements remain available to those who want to use them. The nsf stamp on a dietary supplement product means it was tested for quality and safety. But some popular ones don t and others may be dangerous.