Patients expect that dietary supplements they purchase and physicians expect that dietary supplements they recommend are safe, accurately labeled, quality products. Since many dietary supplements, especially vitamins and minerals, are key parts of evidence-based interventions for patients with many conditions,…
Most American adults who use dietary supplements (eg, vitamins, minerals, plant and animal extracts, hormones, and amino acids) ingest them orally. The market for these products has grown rapidly and significantly over the last 25 years, but consumer protection regulations…
Social media influencers promote a wide variety of products, including dietary supplements. Dietary supplements are regulated as foods, not drugs, by the US Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission. This article details weaknesses in administrative and common…
Dietary supplements are regulated as foods by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and, despite their potentially harmful effects, are not subject to labeling rules that apply to prescription medications. This commentary responds to a case about vitamin A…
Increase in dietary supplement use in the United States suggests a great need for clinicians to be aware of the range of supplements’ quality parameters. Regulatory requirements exist, but specific quality parameters for each ingredient are not set by regulators….
Helping patients lose weight can mitigate their risk of chronic disease and improve their quality of life. Over-the-counter dietary supplements for weight loss, however, are not reviewed or approved for safety or efficacy, nor does evidence support their clinical use….
Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) have been used by athletes for as long as sporting competitions have existed. To protect the health and safety of athletes and promote fair play, banned substance lists were developed that include several classes of PEDs. Evidence…
Despite impressive pharmaceutical advances, mental illness remains a leading cause of suffering and disability. Although some dietary supplements appear to respond to some needs not met by prescription medications, several obstacles prevent their study or use. This article proposes government-supported…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data reveal that consumption of over-the-counter vitamins, minerals, and herbals is widespread. Many clinicians, however, lack critical information about their patients’ use of dietary supplements. Particularly clinically…
Many patients use dietary supplements but do not inform their clinicians. Some allopathic clinicians’ conscious and unconscious cognitive and emotional biases against complementary and alternative medicine can affect whether patients disclose details about dietary supplement use, the quality of communication…
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