When it comes to taking dietary supplements, it's essential to be well-informed and adhere to the dosage instructions printed on the label or suggested by your doctor. It is especially important to be cautious when taking supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or when giving them to a child, unless recommended by your healthcare provider. The safety of many supplements has not been thoroughly evaluated in children and in people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. To help consumers make informed decisions, the FDA recommends consulting with a health professional before deciding to take a dietary supplement. Additionally, they suggest carefully reading the label of any supplement you are thinking of using.
To further assist consumers, the FDA has prepared additional educational materials in their Consumer Information section on the use of dietary supplements. The recommended use statement on the labels tells you how to take the product. This includes the number of capsules or tablets, how many times a day you should take them, and whether you should take them with food. These statements should be followed by the words: “This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.”The FDA has established good manufacturing practices (GMP) that companies must follow to help ensure the identity, purity, concentration and composition of their dietary supplements. Manufacturers must adhere to GMP to guarantee the identity, purity, strength and composition of their products.
In addition, FDA regulations require that those who manufacture, package, or preserve dietary supplements follow current good manufacturing practices that help ensure the identity, purity, quality, concentration, and composition of dietary supplements. This fact sheet from the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides information that should not replace medical advice.
