This document provides information on evaluating nutritional supplements. It discusses that supplements are not required to prove safety before being marketed. Taking more of a supplement does not necessarily provide additional health benefits and can potentially lead to toxicity. When considering a supplement, people should research its potential benefits based on scientific studies, recommended dosage, possible side effects, and best brands. It is important to avoid supplements if undergoing surgery or medical treatment and to check for potential drug interactions.

1. E VA L U AT I N G
N U T R I T I O N A L
S U P P L E M E N T S
Presented by :
Mariam Nasir (005) Saira Zafar (026)
Maria Ashraf (013) Urooj Fatima (025)
Abdullah Khalid (021) Shahid Nazir (017)
Husnain Sajjad (006)
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY

2. Scientists don't know whether a daily multivitamin staves off disease, but
many people take them to maintain or boost their health. Others take just one
vitamin or mineral, like iron, to fill in a gap in their diets.
However, it is important to understand that vitamins and supplements do not
need to be proven safe and effective before marketing. Unlike medications,
clinical trials are not required for dietary supplements.
Another misconception is that if x amount is necessary for optimal health, then
three times that amount must be even better. This is not necessarily the case.
Protein is a great example of a macronutrient that is necessary in ranges from
0.8-2.0 grams/kg body weight/day, but protein in excess of this does not
contribute to increasing lean body mass.

3. • Can this supplement help me? Do I need it for a medical condition or to prevent disease?
• What does the research say about its benefits?
• How much would I take?
• When and for how long do I need it?
• Should I take it as a pill, powder, or liquid?
• Which form of the vitamin (vitamin D2 or D3, for instance) is the best?
• Are there any side effects?
• What are the best brands of this supplement in terms of quality, safety, and how well they work?
• Can I take it along with my other medications? Should I avoid any foods?
• Will I need to stop taking it if I have to have surgery?

4. M E T H O D S T O E V A L U A T E F O O D I N T A K E :
• Comparison with the MyPyramid model: Ask client what he or she eats. Compares its reported food intake with
MyPyramid model.
• Food frequency: Requests client to fill out a questionnaire asking about usual food intake during specified times,
such as
“What do you usually eat for breakfast?”
• 24 hours recall: asks client what he or she has eaten during the previous 24 hours.
• Food records: asks client to record his or her food intake for a specified Length of time (1 day, 3 days, 7 days)
• Diet history: comprehensive interview to obtain through information about food intake, medications, allergies,
nutrition knowledge, culture preferences, weight history, elimination patterns, alcohol and Tobacco usage,
financial ability, functional ability to chew and swallow and special dietary needs.

6. H O W T O E V A L U A T E D I E TA R Y S U P P L E M E N T S
How can consumers be protected? Here are 4 main guidelines you can keep in mind when looking at
supplements. And of course, please remember to always check with your healthcare provider
• Be educated.
The supplement industry makes billions of dollars selling supplements that are not based on sound science.
Supplement manufacturers can use industry funded research, or preliminary lab studies to support their
claims.
• Use reliable sources to evaluate supplements.
Websites including the office of dietary supplements and the Australia Sports Commission are good starting
points.
If you want to buy online , be sure of high rated & authentic website. Also go for social proof.

7. • Look for 3rd party certification.
These are independent agencies that test vitamins and supplements to
ensure quality. Although they do not evaluate effectiveness, 3rd party
certification can help ensure that what is listed on the label is actually
contained in the supplement.
Some common 3rd party agencies include NSF International, United
States Pharmacopeia (USP), the Banned Substance Control
Group, ConsumerLab and Informed-Choice.
• Watch out for proprietary blends.
Proprietary blends allow manufacturers to list ingredients without
listing exact amounts for each ingredients. This is especially concerning
for supplements containing stimulants caffeine, synephrine, or
yohimbine.

8. S I G N S A N D S Y M P T O M S O F I N A D E Q U A T E
N U T R I T I O N :
• Hair: dry, dull or brittle
• Skin: dry patches
• Wounds: poor wound healing or sores
• Fat and Muscles: lack of subcutaneous fat and/or muscle wasting
• Vital signs: abnormal cardiovascular measurements
• General: general weakness and/or impaired condition

9. 6 T I P S F O R C H O O S I N G S A F E R D I E TA R Y
S U P P L E M E N T S
• 1. Don’t assume that more is always better.
• 2. Understand how dietary supplements are regulated.
• 3. Understand what Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) are.
• 4. Be aware of specific product safety concerns and don’t assume that “natural”
means safe.
• 5. Read the label.
• 6. Look for third-party testing marks.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed
under CC BY-SA.

10. • W H E N I S T H E B E S T T I M E T O TA K E
V I TA M I N S ?
• Best time to take prenatal vitamins
Since prenatal vitamins are a multivitamin, taking them before lunch is an optimal time to absorb all that they contain.
A good prenatal vitamin will include calcium, iron, and folic acid, according to the (ACOG).
• Best time to take fat-soluble vitamins
The optimal time to take fat-soluble vitamins is with your evening meal. These vitamins include vitamin A, vitamin
K, vitamin E, and vitamin D.
• Best time to take water-soluble vitamins
Water-soluble vitamins absorb best on an empty stomach. That means taking them first thing in the morning, 30
minutes prior to eating, or two hours after a meal. Vitamin C, all B vitamins, and folate (folic acid) are water soluble.
• Best time to take B vitamins
For a good start to your day, take a B vitamin on an empty stomach when you first wake up in the morning. B vitamins
are a special family of water-soluble vitamins that are energy-boosting and stress-busting. Some of the most popular B
vitamins are B-2, B-6, and B-12.

11. W H O S H O U L D A V O I D S U P P L E M E N T S A N D
V I TA M I N S ?
• People who are going to have surgery, because some products may lead to
bleeding and other dangerous complications.
• People who’ve had cancer or are getting treated for it. Some supplements could
help cancer cells grow or make treatments for the disease less effective.
• People who take heart medications, diuretics, blood thinners, aspirin, drugs that
turn down the immune system, and steroids. With any type of drug, there’s always
a chance that it won’t mix well with a supplement, but the problems can be
especially severe with some of these drugs.

12. T Y P E S O F A D V E R S E R E A C T I O N S T O
N U T R I T I O N A L S U P P L E M E N T S
There are in fact many ways in which a supplement of an essential nutrient can produce an
adverse effect. Some of the more important ones are:
• Temporary and non-serious reactions
These are usually a consequence of a high intake of a particular nutrient over a brief
period of time; vitamin B2 – riboflavin causing yellow discolouration of the urine, beta-
carotene producing a yellow/orange tinge to the skin, excess magnesium and vitamin C
causing diarrhoea , iron causing gastrointestinal upset and choline rarely causing a fishy
odour to the sweat.
• Serious toxic accumulation
These situations arise because the nutrient is difficult for the body to excrete and an
excess can damage some tissues; vitamin A – retinol, iron, manganese and rarely copper
accumulating in the liver.

13. R E M A I N I N G
• EFFECTS OF NUTRIENTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OR GROWTH
OF CANCER
T appears possible that some nutrients in high doses might increase the
risk of cancer developing or possibly its rate of growth. This may apply to
supplements but not dietary intake of vitamin A – retinol, beta-carotene,
folate, zinc and possibly vitamin E and selenium.

14. THANK YOU