- What are Dietary Supplements? -

What are Dietary Supplements? -

Article Details

What are Dietary Supplements? -

Date Added: January 27, 2008 10:31:04 PM

Author: FitnessLocators.com & Fitness2go.net

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What are Dietary Supplements?

“A dietary supplement is a product taken by mouth that contains a “dietary ingredient” intended to supplement the diet”, according to the FDA website. (www.cfsanf.fda.gov/~dms/ds-oview.html). Also FDA definition of dietary ingredients is , “The dietary ingredients in these products may include : vitamins, mineral, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, and metabolites." (www.cfsanf.fda.gov/~dms/ds-oview.html)

Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act of 1994 (law that regulates supplements)

Before 1958, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated dietary supplements as they regulated Drugs, which insured the consumers safe and high quality supplements. However, in 1994, President Clinton gave birth to the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), which changed the way the FDA regulated dietary supplements. As a result of this law, the supplement companies now have a lot of power on how they make their supplements, and how they market their supplement's health claims. Before, the creation of DSHEA law, supplements had to pass strict FDA law before they could be sold on the market. However, now, “Dietary supplements are no longer subject to the pre-market safety evaluation”, according to FDA website. www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dietsupp.html

How does DSHEA Law Protect Consumers

DSHEA law is like Robin Hood because it gives the consumer (you & me) Dietary supplements. However, it robs us because we are not Guaranteed to get what we paid for when it comes down to supplement safety, and supplement quality. However, I personally think DSHEA law is OK because it gives me access to supplements that help me reach my fitness goals. However, on the other hand, the DSHEA law is not that great because I willingly buy supplements that do not meet up to their Nutrition labeling or "Supplement Fact sheet" statements, which means I don’t get what I paid for. However, Coming back to the point, what does the DSHEA do for the consumer?

· The DSHEA gives the FDA the power to set up the Good Manufactory Practices regulation with the supplements manufacturing companies (GMPs), which means FDA can have some control over their preparation, packing, and holding of dietary supplements.

· Also the DSHEA, sets up the Commission on Dietary Supplements, which has seven members who are appointed by the president. These seven member's requirements are:

o 3 members must be qualified by scientific training, and have experience to evaluate supplements' health benefits,

o 1 of these members must be trained in pharmacognosy

o 1 of these members must be trained in medical botany

o 1 of these members must be trained in traditional herbal medicine

How does DSHEA law NOT PROTECT consumers?

“Dietary supplements do not need approval form FDA before they are marketed”, according to FDA website. www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-oview.html
“Supplement Manufacturers Companies do not need to register themselves nor their dietary supplements products with FDA before producing or selling them”, according to FDA website. www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-oview.html
It Empowers Supplements Manufacturers to be their own judicial system when it comes down to market Health Claims. What I mean by this is, thanks to DSHEA law , supplements companies do not have to show their credibility of their research that supports their health claim for a supplement to FDA or any other governmental committee.
It empowers the supplement manufacturers to regulate themselves, to insure that every supplement made has the right amount of ingredients that it is stated on the “Supplement Fact” panel. Now think about it logically. Supplement Companies want to make the most amount of money they can,. So do you think, supplement companies will not take short cuts to capitalize on their raw-supplement- making- materials to produce as many supplements as possible with the limited amount of raw materials they have? Also, Do you think that supplement companies will not try to save money by buying the cheapest raw-supplements-making-materials, which means the quality on their final produce will suffer. In other words, We are in-slaved to the honesty and ethic policy of a money Hunger and money driving supplement manufacturers with no Governmental Agency regulations. Think about it logically, How many Fortune 500 companies have you heard or seen on CNN going Corrupted, even though these Fortune 500 companies have so many Regulations From the States and Federal Government. In Summary, We, as consumers need to really research the supplements we want to take. Don't Just Read the 'Marketing Science' but find information about supplements from University Studies or other Credible Institutions like ACSM and NSCA. I have personally been working out for 10 years now, and I have a Kinesiology Degree from UNT, Plus a few Fitness Certifications, and I take supplements. Do I believe in supplements? YES. However, I know for a fact there has been times you and I have purchased supplements and we do not get what we paid for. I am not saying I love or hate supplement companies . All I am Saying is that I just want to put the facts on the table and let YOU make your own decision, and Finally I would like to educate You.

Five items that need to be on all supplement bottles according to DSHEA law according to the FDA website (www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-oview.html)

1. Name of the supplement.

2. Name and place of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor.

3. Complete list of ingredients.

4. Net weight of the supplement produced.

5. Nutrition label called “Supplement Facts” panel .

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