The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that there are currently more than 29,000 different dietary supplements available to consumers and an average of 1,000 new ones. With the ever-growing market of dietary supplements, it is essential to understand who is taking them and why. According to the United States Council for Responsible Nutrition, 77 percent of Americans take some form of dietary supplement. This includes vitamins, minerals, botanicals, and amino acids.
Manufacturers of dietary supplements containing new dietary ingredients must notify the FDA at least 75 days before introducing the product to interstate commerce. This is to guarantee that the product is safe for consumers. In 1989, reports surfaced that some L-tryptophan supplements were associated with eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. This led to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) in 1994. This act established a definition of dietary supplements and also created a commission to consider the marketing and labeling of dietary supplements.
A survey conducted by Prevention Magazine in 2000 found that nearly two-thirds of respondents believed that herbal supplements were safe or completely safe. This indicates a high degree of consumer confidence in supplements. Physicians should strive to evaluate any possible interactions between drugs, supplements, and diseases based on the products that patients are using or considering using. Many products considered dietary supplements are an important part of patients' health care, including products to treat vitamin and mineral deficiencies and supplements during pregnancy.
With the large increase in the number of manufacturers and the subsequent increase in the number and types of safety issues, several companies have hired independent product certification companies to provide greater safety and minimize risks to consumers who rely on dietary supplements. The FD&C Act defines an adverse effect (AD) of a dietary supplement as “any health-related event associated with the use of a dietary supplement that is adverse (for example, headache, abdominal pain, allergic reaction, rash or dizziness, or lightheadedness). Warnings have been published on the FDA's MedWatch website (FDA, 200) on the FDA's MedWatch website (FDA, 200), issued in response to a variety of potential health problems identified by the FDA as potential causes for concern. Existing studies on the recorded use of dietary supplements suggest an association between the increase in the use of dietary supplements by older people and those who claim to have healthier lifestyles (Radimer et al.).
As the dietary supplement industry continues to expand and patients continue to consume dietary supplements, it is necessary to review and modernize the DSHEA and to oversee the industry by the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission. Overall, it is essential for consumers to be aware of what they are taking when it comes to dietary supplements. It is also important for physicians to be aware of any potential interactions between drugs, supplements, and diseases based on what their patients are taking or considering taking.
