DIETARY SUPPLEMENTSDIETARY SUPPLEMENTS DO WE NEED THEM? DO WE NEED THEM?

Juanita KerberJuanita KerberKH499 Bachelor’s Capstone in Health and WellnessKH499 Bachelor’s Capstone in Health and Wellness

Why Take Them?Why Take Them?

If you don’t eat a nutritious variety of foods, some dietary supplements may be beneficial to help you get adequate amounts of daily essential nutrients.

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTSDIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

Purposeful use to support the dietPurposeful use to support the diet Contains dietary components in vitamins, Contains dietary components in vitamins,

minerals or herbsminerals or herbs Comes in various forms, maybe gelcap, Comes in various forms, maybe gelcap,

tablets, or powertablets, or power

What You Should KnowWhat You Should Know

Research and use reliable information Research and use reliable information about using a dietary supplementabout using a dietary supplement

The National Center for Complementary The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)

May interact with medications or other May interact with medications or other dietary supplementsdietary supplements

What You Should KnowWhat You Should Know

Considering replacing your regular Considering replacing your regular medication with one or more dietary medication with one or more dietary supplements should be advised first. supplements should be advised first.

Surgical risks.Surgical risks.

Most dietary supplements have not been Most dietary supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children. mothers, or children.

SafetySafety

According to NIH: National Center for According to NIH: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine key Complementary and Alternative Medicine key points are needed to ensure safety measures points are needed to ensure safety measures when using a supplement:when using a supplement:

Always inform your doctor about any dietary Always inform your doctor about any dietary supplements you use supplements you use Do not take a bigger dose than the label recommends Do not take a bigger dose than the label recommends Stop taking it if you have side effects Stop taking it if you have side effects Read trustworthy information about the supplement Read trustworthy information about the supplement

(MEDLINE PLUS, 2011).(MEDLINE PLUS, 2011).

SafetySafetyVitamin K can reduce the ability of the blood thinner Coumadin® to prevent blood from clotting.

St. John’s wort can speed the breakdown of many drugs (including antidepressants and birth control pills) and thereby reduce these drugs’ effectiveness.

Antioxidant supplements, like vitamins C and E, might reduce the effectiveness of some types of cancer chemotherapy.

Dietary BenefitsDietary Benefits

Pregnant women can take vitamin folic acid to prevent certain birth defects in their babies. Calcium and vitamin D are important for keeping bones strong and reducing bone lossOmega-3 fatty acids from fish oils might help some people with heart disease. Other supplements

Zinc is found in a wide variety of foods, Zinc is found in a wide variety of foods, including beans, and in dietary including beans, and in dietary supplements.supplements.

(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011).

                              

Vitamin B12 is found naturally in animal foods, including meat, fish, and eggs. Some foods are fortified with vitamin B12.

(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011).

““Historically, cranberry fruits and leaves were used for a Historically, cranberry fruits and leaves were used for a variety of problems, such as wounds, diarrhea, diabetes, variety of problems, such as wounds, diarrhea, diabetes, stomach ailments, and liver problems. Recently, an stomach ailments, and liver problems. Recently, an NCCAM-funded study in NCCAM-funded study in Clinical Infectious DiseasesClinical Infectious Diseases found that cranberry juice—given to college-aged women found that cranberry juice—given to college-aged women who just recovered from a bladder infection—did not who just recovered from a bladder infection—did not

prevent urinary tract infections from coming back.”prevent urinary tract infections from coming back.”

(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011).

FAQFAQQ. How do I know if I need a dietary supplement?Q. How do I know if I need a dietary supplement?

A.A. Because many products are marketed as dietary supplements, it is important to Because many products are marketed as dietary supplements, it is important to remember that supplements include vitamins and minerals, as well as herbs, remember that supplements include vitamins and minerals, as well as herbs, botanicals and other substances.botanicals and other substances.

Some supplements may help ensure that you get adequate amounts of essential Some supplements may help ensure that you get adequate amounts of essential nutrients or help promote optimal health and performance if you do not consume a nutrients or help promote optimal health and performance if you do not consume a variety of foods, as recommended in the variety of foods, as recommended in the MyPyramidMyPyramid and Dietary Guidelines for and Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Americans.

However, dietary supplements are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, However, dietary supplements are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure disease. In some cases, dietary supplements may have unwanted effects, or cure disease. In some cases, dietary supplements may have unwanted effects, especially if taken before surgery or with other dietary supplements or medicines, or if especially if taken before surgery or with other dietary supplements or medicines, or if you have certain health conditions.you have certain health conditions.

Do not self diagnose any health condition. Work with your health care provider to Do not self diagnose any health condition. Work with your health care provider to determine how best to achieve optimal health and always check with your health care determine how best to achieve optimal health and always check with your health care provider before taking a supplement, especially when combining or substituting them provider before taking a supplement, especially when combining or substituting them with other foods or medicine.with other foods or medicine.

Retrieved from http://ods.od.nih.gov/pubs/DS_WhatYouNeedToKnow.pdf

References:References:National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (2011). Using dietary National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (2011). Using dietary

supplements wisely. Retrieved from supplements wisely. Retrieved from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/supplements/wiseuse.htmhttp://nccam.nih.gov/health/supplements/wiseuse.htm

MEDLINE PLUS. (2011). Dietary Supplements. Retrieved from MEDLINE PLUS. (2011). Dietary Supplements. Retrieved from

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dietarysupplements.htmlhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dietarysupplements.html

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. (N.D.). Dietary supplements: what you need to NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. (N.D.). Dietary supplements: what you need to know. know.

Retrieved from Retrieved from http://ods.od.nih.gov/pubs/DS_WhatYouNeedToKnow.pdfhttp://ods.od.nih.gov/pubs/DS_WhatYouNeedToKnow.pdf

Randall, L. (2009). How much calcium does women really need? Retrieved from Randall, L. (2009). How much calcium does women really need? Retrieved from

http://www.examiner.com/women-s-health-in-detroit/how-much-calcium-do-women-http://www.examiner.com/women-s-health-in-detroit/how-much-calcium-do-women- really-really-

needneed