Dietary Supplements

“No over-the-counter (OTC) dietary supplement
or herbal therapy has been found to be effective
on menopause symptoms”.1

Umbrella
What may the Dietary Supplements Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Dietary Supplements
  • Nutritional Supplements
  • Supplements
  • Vitamins and Minerals

Definition

What is a dietary supplement?

DotS the definition of a dietary supplement may vary. In Dietary Supplements Questions and Answers: What Is A Dietary Supplement? the (United States) Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) definition is:

“A dietary supplement is a product taken by mouth that contains a “dietary ingredient” intended to supplement or enhance the diet. The “dietary ingredients” in these products may include: vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, glandulars, and metabolites. Dietary supplements can also be extracts or concentrates, and may be found in many forms such as tablets, capsules, soft gels, gel caps, liquids, or powders”.2

Foods or Drugs

Can dietary supplements be “foods” not drugs?

Depending on the Country this may vary. In Dietary Supplements Questions and Answers: What Is A Dietary Supplement? the FDA explain for the United States:

“Whatever their form may be, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 places dietary supplements in a special category under the general umbrella of “foods,” not drugs, and requires that every supplement be labeled a dietary supplement”.3

Types

What are types of dietary supplements?

The (United States) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) explain:

“In addition to vitamins, dietary supplements can contain minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and many other ingredients”.4

Forms

What forms may dietary supplements come in?

In Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know the ODS note:

“Dietary supplements come in a variety of forms, including tablets, capsules, gummies, and powders, as well as drinks and energy bars”.5

Popular

What are popular dietary supplements?

In Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know the ODS explain:

“Popular supplements include vitamins D and B12; minerals like calcium and iron; herbs such as echinacea and garlic; and products like glucosamine, probiotics, and fish oils”.6

Natural or Not

Are dietary supplements natural?

In Some Imported Dietary Supplements and Nonprescription Drug Products May Harm You: “Natural” Does Not Mean “Safe” the FDA explain:

“But just because a product claims to be natural doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe. Likewise, just because a product claims to be natural does not mean that it’s free of hidden drug ingredients.

Furthermore, these products may also be contaminated or contain potentially harmful chemicals or drug ingredients not listed on the label”.7

Safe or Not

Are dietary supplements safe?

In Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Is it safe to take dietary supplements or herbal therapies for my menopause symptoms? the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) also note:

“A. …Because normal FDA regulations for prescription or OTC drugs do not apply to dietary supplements, demonstrating safety is not required before a dietary supplement is put on the market. Although a number of manufacturers do employ rigorous quality-control measures, many products are not monitored for purity or levels of active ingredients”.8

In Using Dietary Supplements Wisely: What the Science Says About the Safety and Side Effects of Dietary Supplements the (United States) National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health caution:

  • “Some dietary supplements may harm you if you have a particular medical condition or risk factor or are taking certain prescription or over-the-counter medications. For example, the herbal supplement St. John’s wort makes many medications less effective”.9

Menopause Symptoms

Are dietary supplements effective on menopause symptoms?

In Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Is it safe to take dietary supplements or herbal therapies for my menopause symptoms? the NAMS elaborate on:


Dietary Supplements
“A. No over-the-counter (OTC) dietary supplement or herbal therapy has been found to be effective on menopause symptoms. If you still want to try a dietary supplement for your hot flashes, you must continue only with the appropriate oversight of your healthcare provider”.10

Record

Is it a good idea to keep a record of the dietary supplements I choose to take?

Yes. In Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know – Talk With Your Health Care Providers the ODS explain:

“Keep a complete record of any dietary supplements and medicines you take. The Office of Dietary Supplements website has a useful form, “My Dietary Supplement and Medicine Record,” that you can print and fill out at home. For each product, note the name, the dose you take, how often you take it, and the reason for use. You can share this record with your health care providers to discuss what’s best for your overall health”.11

Health Care Provider

What if I choose to take dietary supplements?

If you choose to take dietary supplements it may also be in your best interest to also choose to tell all your health care providers you are doing this.

In Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Use of Dietary Supplements – Q. How Do I Know If I Need A Dietary Supplement? the ODS caution:

“A… Do not self-diagnose any health condition. Work with your health care provider to determine how best to achieve optimal health. Also check with your health care provider before taking a supplement, especially if you take any medicines or other dietary supplements or if you have any health conditions”.12

On page four in Complementary & Alternate Therapies: Complementary and Alternative Therapies – New Developments the (British) Women’s Health Concern note:

“It is most important to have an individualised approach from your practitioner. We are realising more and more that the powerful placebo effect from almost every menopause intervention (which can be at the 50-60 percent level) may be due to improved brain chemical messengers which are generated because you believe that the treatment option will be effective”.13

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Dietary Supplements?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Dietary Supplements?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

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  71. Office of Dietary Supplements [United States]: Background Information: Dietary Supplements
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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Is it safe to take dietary supplements or herbal therapies for my menopause symptoms? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hot-flashes Accessed: 12 November 2023
  2. Dietary Supplements Questions and Answers: What Is A Dietary Supplement? Content Current As of: 07 January 2015. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/QuestionsAnswers/ucm100102.htm Accessed: 12 November 2023
  3. Dietary Supplements Questions and Answers: What Is A Dietary Supplement? Content Current As of: 07 January 2015. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/QuestionsAnswers/ucm100102.htm Accessed: 12 November 2023
  4. Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know. Reviewed: 04 January 2023. Office of Dietary Supplements https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DS_WhatYouNeedToKnow.aspx/ Accessed: 12 November 2023
  5. Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know. Reviewed: 04 January 2023.Office of Dietary Supplements https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DS_WhatYouNeedToKnow.aspx/ Accessed: 12 November 2023
  6. Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know. Reviewed: 04 January 2023. Office of Dietary Supplements https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DS_WhatYouNeedToKnow.aspx/ Accessed: 12 November 2023
  7. Some Imported Dietary Supplements and Nonprescription Drug Products May Harm You: “Natural” Does Not Mean “Safe”. Content Current As of 10 April 2020. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/some-imported-dietary-supplements-and-nonprescription-drug-products-may-harm-you Accessed: 12 November 2023
  8. Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Is it safe to take dietary supplements or herbal therapies for my menopause symptoms? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hot-flashes Accessed: 12 November 2023
  9. Using Dietary Supplements Wisely: What the Science Says About the Safety and Side Effects of Dietary Supplements. Last Updated: January 2019. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/using-dietary-supplements-wisely Accessed: 12 November 2023
  10. Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Is it safe to take dietary supplements or herbal therapies for my menopause symptoms? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hot-flashes Accessed: 12 November 2023
  11. Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know – Talk With Your Health Care Providers. Reviewed: 04 January 2023. Office of Dietary Supplements https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DS_WhatYouNeedToKnow.aspx/ Accessed: 12 November 2023
  12. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Use of Dietary Supplements – Q. How Do I Know If I Need A Dietary Supplement? Reviewed: 21 March 2023. Office of Dietary Supplements https://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/ODS_Frequently_Asked_Questions.aspx Accessed: 12 November 2023
  13. Complementary & Alternate Therapies: Complementary and Alternative Therapies – New Developments. Publication Date: September 2020:4. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/03-WHC-FACTSHEET-Complementary-And-Alternative-Therapies-NOV2022-B.pdf Accessed: 12 November 2023
Topic Last Updated: 12 November 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 12 November 2023

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