This PowerPoint is a compilation of information about vitamins, herbs, supplements, and the policies involved in regulating them.

1. Ashley Peterson
HW499 Bachelors Capstone in Health and Wellness
April 19th, 2016
Professor Davis

2.  Dietary supplements are defined as
substances that come in either capsule,
liquid, pill, or tablet form. These substances
contain “one or more dietary ingredient
(including vitamins; minerals; herbs or other
botanicals; amino acids, and other
substances)” (Paul, 2016).

3.  Supplements provide added nutrients that the
body needs, but may not be getting from food.
They “fill in the gaps” in a person’s diet.
 Supplements are easy to take.
 They are great for times of higher nutritional
need such as pregnancy, recovery from illnesses,
and periods of extreme growth (childhood).
 They help people with dietary intolerances (like
lactose intolerance) get the nutrients they need.
 Supplements also help those get needed
nutrients that follow strict diets, like individuals
who are vegan.

4.  Some supplements negatively interact with
medications.
 People can easily overdose on supplements.
 Supplements are not strongly regulated by the
government.
 Some supplements are considered dangerous to
consume. “Aristolochia [is] linked to kidney
failure and cancer in the U.S., China, Europe,
and Japan” (Paul, 2016). Ephedra is a banned
supplement that has caused heart attacks and
strokes.
 Many people take supplements without
consulting with a doctor prior to starting the
supplement.

5.  The “FDA is responsible for protecting the
public health by assuring the safety, efficacy
and security of human and veterinary drugs,
biological products, medical devices, our
nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products
that emit radiation” (FDA, 2015). Vitamins,
herbs, and nutritional supplements fall
underneath the FDA for regulation.

6.  It is the FDA’s responsibility to regulate the
ingredients in supplements as well as the
final product. Supplements are regulated by
a sub-group of the FDA called “the Dietary
Supplement Health and Education Act of
1994 (DSHEA)” (FDA, 2016).

7.  Companies that produce supplements are
required to list all ingredients in their
supplements on the container and packaging.
 They are not allowed to mislead consumers with
false statements of health.
 Companies “are responsible for evaluating the
safety and labeling of their products before
marketing to ensure that they meet all the
requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations”
(FDA, 2016).
 It is the responsibility of the FDA to pursue
action against companies and manufacturers that
falsely advertise their supplements or if the
supplements are reported to cause health issues.

8.  It is important when looking for the right
supplements to do research to make sure the
product is of the best quality. Some great
websites for information are:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements
/
This is the FDA’s website for supplements and
you can find links to information about what
is in supplements, information for the
consumer, safety and alerts, and much more.

9. https://ods.od.nih.gov/
The National Institutes of Health has an Office
of Dietary Supplements. This website offers a
supplement fact sheet, a frequently asked
questions list about supplements, links to
studies done on supplements, and much
more.
http://www.hsis.org/
The Health Supplements Information Services
(HSIS) is an organization that is dedicated to
sharing unbiased information about vitamins,
minerals, and nutritional supplements.

10.  It is important to remember that knowledge
is power. When we take the time to research
our supplements, we give ourselves the tools
to pick the best possible supplements for our
health.
 It is critical to remember to talk to your
health care provider before starting a new
supplement.
 Searching the FDA’s website is a great way to
ensure a supplement is up to par and are not
under investigation for misinformation or
problems.

11.  FDA. (2016). Dietary Supplements. Retrieved April
17th, 2016 from
http://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/.
 FDA. (2015). What we do. Retrieved April 17th, 2016
from http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/WhatWeDo/.
 HSIS. (2016). Health Supplements Information
Services. Retrieved April 17th, 2016 from
http://www.hsis.org/.
 NIH. (N.D.) Office of Dietary Supplements. Retrieved
April 17th, 2016 from https://ods.od.nih.gov/.
 Paul, M., Smith, M. (2016). Dietary Supplements.
Retrieved April 17th, 2016 from
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-
eating/dietary-supplements.htm.