The use of dietary supplements has often been debated by medical workers who want to examine the benefits and risks of these products. Overall, the definition of the term dietary supplements includes several components. First, this notion is usually referred to as the products containing minerals, vitamins, amino acids, or proteins (Bendich & Deckelbaum, 2010, p. 90). Secondly, these nutrients are usually sold as powders, gel caps, or capsules that supplement the diet of an individual (Bendich & Deckelbaum, 2010, p. 90). This is one of the aspects that can be distinguished.
While discussing the possible benefits of dietary supplements, one should keep in mind that the manufacturers of such products do not have to demonstrate the positive impacts of such nutrients. This is one of the limitations that should not be overlooked by consumers. There are several alleged benefits of using dietary supplements. For example, the ingestion of certain nutrients or vitamins can reduce the risk of various health problems such as osteoporosis, cancer, or osteoporosis (Talbott, 2012, p. 10). Additionally, in this way, one can get the nutrients that are not included in the diet (Talbott, 2012, p. 10). These products can help people who do not get the necessary intake of certain vitamins. These are the main positive aspects that should be considered.
Yet, certain risks should not be overlooked. One should keep in mind that the production of dietary supplements is not regulated by the government. Thus, consumers should be aware of possible complications that were not even identified in the course of clinical trials (Talbott, 2012). Furthermore, excessive intake of some vitamins can also give rise to certain health problems such as cancer (Bendich & Deckelbaum, 2010). So, consumers should not use nutrients without consulting medical professionals. Therefore, one should be aware of the risks to which the health of a person can be exposed.
Much attention should be paid to the legal regulation of dietary supplements. In particular, one should mention that Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can treat these products only as foods, but not as drugs (Bendich & Deckelbaum, 2010). Therefore, they do not have to be subjected to clinical trials. This situation is the result of adopting the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act which relaxed the control over such products. Yet, the FDA does not enable companies to sell their dietary supplements as pharmaceutical drugs (Talbott, 2012).
Despite this prohibition, dietary products can be used by consumers to treat several health conditions. For example, one can mention obesity. Some people prefer to use chromium picolinate. Allegedly, this dietary supplement can stabilize the metabolism of various carbohydrates. However, placebo-controlled trials indicate that this substance does not lead to the change in weight (Gray & Bouchard, 2003, p. 508). Moreover, the extended use of chromium can damage the DNA of a person (Gray & Bouchard, 2003, p. 508). However, the fact label for this dietary supplement does not include this information. The manufacturers do not identify any complications. This is one of the aspects that should be singled out.
Overall, this discussion indicates that consumers should be very careful while using dietary supplements. In particular, they should be aware of the possible after-effects of such products, especially if they are used to treat health conditions. These are the main arguments that can be put forward.
Reference List
Bendich, A., & Deckelbaum, R. (2010). Preventive Nutrition: The Comprehensive Guide for Health Professionals. New York, NY: Springer.
Gray, G., & Bouchard, C. (2003). Handbook of Obesity: Clinical Applications. New York, NY: CRC Press.
Talbott, S. (2012). A Guide to Understanding Dietary Supplements. New York, NY: Routledge.