special subjects
Overview of Dietary Supplements
Introduction
Dietary supplements are used by about 75% of Americans. They are the most common therapies included among Overview of Integrative, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine , which include healing approaches and therapies that historically have not been included in conventional, mainstream Western medicine. Dietary supplements include medicinal herbs and nutraceuticals (products derived from food sources that claim to provide health benefits). Because the use of dietary supplements is widespread, the United States government passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) in 1994. It defines a dietary supplement as any product (besides tobacco) that contains a vitamin, mineral, herb or other plant product, or amino acid and that is intended as a supplement to the normal diet. Certain hormones, such as The DSHEA requires that the label of a dietary supplement identify it as such. The label must state that the claims for the dietary supplement have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The label must also list each ingredient by name, quantity, and total weight and must identify the plant parts from which each ingredient is derived. Manufacturers are permitted to make claims about the product's structure and function (for example, good for urinary tract health), but they cannot make or imply claims for the product as a drug or therapy (for example, treats urinary tract infections). Expiration dates are often included on the standardized product labels. Most dietary supplements used in alternative medicine are derived from plants, and some are derived from animals. Because such dietary supplements are natural, some people assume that they are safe to use. However, a substance is not necessarily safe just because it is natural. For example, many potent poisons, such as hemlock, are derived from plants, and some, such as snake venoms, are derived from animals. Furthermore, almost all substances that affect the body, whether dietary supplements or drugs approved for medical use by the FDA, can have unwanted side effects. 