Dietary Supplements
Step into a health foods store and you’ll likely be greeted by rows and rows of bottles filled with nutritional supplements like vitamins, minerals and herbs. Figuring out which supplements you need (or don’t need) to take can be challenging, to say the least. Time spent doing a little research with the Web sites recommended in this guide can help you sort through the myriad options available.
Expand All Guide SectionsWhat are Dietary Supplements?
Use the Web sites in this section to learn what a dietary supplement is, answer some frequently asked questions about supplements and discuss the use of supplements for certain groups of people, such as pregnant or elderly individuals.
Dulcinea's Insight
- A simple search for “dietary supplements” or “nutritional supplements” yields dozens of results about specific companies that sell these products. Use a critical eye when deciding whether to apply any health advice these individual companies offer.
- The findingDulcinea Health Web Guide suggests resources that can help you evaluate a Web site’s credibility.
Dulcinea's Picks
For an overview of dietary supplements …
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
answers some frequently asked questions about dietary supplements, such as what they are, what the word “natural” means on a supplement’s label and where to find science-based information on a supplement.
The Dietary Supplements Labels Database
compiles records of the ingredients in dietary supplements so that users can compare the contents of various products.
To understand dietary supplement labels and health claims …
NSF International
explains how to understand dietary supplement labels, and discusses the NSF’s certification system for helping to ensure that a dietary supplement is safe to use. NSF International is part of the World Health Organization.
Nutrition.gov
contains a section of articles related to health claims made about the effectiveness of dietary supplements.
Dietary supplements for specific groups of people …
The American Academy of Pediatrics
contains a collection of articles and audio files about child nutrition, including information about specific nutrients kids need, such as calcium and iron.
MyPyramid.gov
explains the importance of prenatal and nutritional supplements for pregnant and nursing mothers. Fortified foods are also discussed here.
The Food and Drug Administration
offers key tips to older people who use dietary supplements. Learn why it’s best to talk to a medical provider about dietary supplement use, the FDA’s role in regulating supplements and what to do if you have a reaction to a supplement.
The Cleveland Clinic
discusses dietary supplements in terms of sports nutrition.
Mayo Clinic
examines the claims and safety concerns of dietary supplements that are commonly used for weight loss.
The American Heart Association
has some pointers for vegetarians wondering what type of nutritional supplements they may need.
Herbal Supplements
Herbs are plants that are consumed or used for their therapeutic properties. Read on to learn about ... read more »
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are necessary parts of our diet. But which ones do you need and why? This ... read more »
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