boosting your health
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❯❯ a guide to health supplements // by leigh goodrich |design by amorette jeng and elizabeth wang Many college students today grew up taking some
type of chewable multivitamin, or may currently take an immuneboosting supplement if they are feeling under the weather. Although these products seem ubiquitous, it was not until the mid-1990’s that dietary supplements even had a legal definition in the United States. The 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) opened the market for many of the pills, tablets, and products found in specialty health food stores and general drugstores alike.
replacement for a healthy diet and lifestyle. According to Dr. Rotblatt, “evidence points to the fact that food is better. If you have a choice of eating healthy, or eating poorly and taking multivitamins, eating healthy is best.” That being said, the following compounds and herbs have been used, sometimes for centuries, for various purposes.
The key distinction with dietary and herbal supplements is that they are not allowed to make medical claims, as stated by the DSHEA law. As opposed to drugs, which are tested for safety and efficacy by the FDA before they are marketed, dietary supplements are only reviewed for labeling. This makes quality assurance and contamination major issues in the supplement industry. According to Dr. Michael Rotblatt, Clinical Professor for the UCLA Department of Medicine, and co-author of Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine, a small percentage of supplements on the market are contaminated with heavy metals that cause toxicity, or are adulterated with actual drugs.
If you are considering a certain supplement, or even a multivitamin, use the following guide to inform yourself. It is important to note that much of the research in the field of dietary supplements, and especially herbal supplements, is in its infancy. Scientists have much to learn about the effects and mechanisms for many of these supplements. One aspect that the research does show is that supplements are no
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total wellness ▪ winter 2011
Fortunately, there are some steps that consumers can take to reduce their risk of harm. Students should read labels closely and do research before starting to take any supplement. Always be sure to discuss with your doctor about what supplements you are taking. When doing research, some resources like Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database provide information through a subscription. Some sites like Consumer Lab also provide detailed tests of supplements for quality assurance purposes, and some information is available for free. Other useful tools for more information about supplements in general include NIH resources such as MedlinePlus, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), and the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS).