2. There are many nutritional supplements in the
marketplace today. To find out more about this topic you
can visit the following organizations that are related to
supplements regulations:
FDA- Food and Drug Administration
WHO- World Health Organization
ASCPT- American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and
Therapeutics
NCCAM - National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine
https://www.aamc.org/research/adhocgp/pdfs/nccam.pdf
3. One popular supplement is fish oil because it is an excellent source of
omega-3 fatty acids. Omeg-3 fatty acids function is to help reduce blood
pressure, reduce triglycerides while slowing the development of plaque
in the arteries. They can reduce the chance of abnormal heart rhythm,
reduce the likelihood of heart attack and stroke. Omeg-3 fatty acids
help lessen the chance of sudden cardiac death in people with heart
disease. They are good for almost every part of your body including to
help support the levels of serotonin, which is the feel-good hormone.
(2017 WebMD)
4. Educational resources for nutritional supplements
General Information and Resources for Dietary Supplements
https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/general-information-and-resources-dietary-
supplements
Education Resources | Food and Nutrition Information Center
https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/education-resources
Dietary and Herbal Supplements | NCCIH
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/supplements
Online Dietary Supplement Resources - NCBI - NIH
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2956064/
10 Reliable Nutrition Resources | Bean A Foodie
beanafoodie.com/10-reliable-nutrition-resources/
5. Recommendations for nutritional supplements
It’s important to remember that dietary supplements are designed to supplement your
diet, not to replace nutritious foods. Nutritional needs should be met primarily from
foods. Individuals should get their nutritional needs through healthy eating patterns and
choose a wide variety of nutritious from all five food groups. Some people may require
supplements in their diets because they are not able to obtains them in their diets and
they include the following:
• Pregnant women
• Nursing mothers
• Strict vegetarians
• People with food tolerance or allergies
• Senior citizens
• People with diseases such as cancer, kidney, cardiovascular and bone disease
(WebMD 2018)
7. Popular dietary supplements
Calcium
Cassia Cinnamon
Chondroitin Sulfate
Chromium
Coenzyme Q-10
Cranberry
Echinacea
Fish Oil
Garlic
Ginger
Ginkgo
Ginseng
Glucosamine
Green Tea
Hoodia
Magnesium
Melatonin
Milk Thistle
Niacin and Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
Omega-3 Fatty Acid
Saw Palmetto
Selenium
St. John's Wort
Valerian
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Zinc
Complete List of Dietary Supplements starting with
"A“
8. Precautions about nutritional supplements
Many supplements contain active ingredients that can
have strong effects in the body. Always be alert to the
possibility of unexpected side effects. Here are some
precautions:
• Dietary supplements are not intended to replace a balanced
diet
• Always check with your doctor or healthcare provider before
taking supplements
• Some supplements may interact with prescriptions or over the
counter drugs
• Some supplements may have adverse effects during surgery
10. Reference
FDA (2018) Tips For Dietary Users. Retrieved from:
https://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/UsingDietarySupplements/ucm110567.ht
m
NIH (2011) Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know. Retrieved From:
https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DS_WhatYouNeedToKnow.aspx
WebMD (2017) Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements For Heart Disease. Retrieved From:
https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/omega-3-fish-oil-
supplements-for-high-blood-pressure
Simpson, Kelly (2013) The Benefits of Dietary Supplements. Retrieved From:
https://www.unh.edu/healthyunh/blog/2013/06/benefits-dietary-supplements
