Dietary Supplement Research Paper

The Pros and Cons of the Use of Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements are products intended to enhance daily intake of nutrients, usually vitamins and minerals, herbals and botanicals, amino acids, and enzymes. Dietary supplements come in a diversity of forms, such as tablets, capsules, powders, drinks and energy bars. Common supplements are vitamins D and E; minerals like calcium and iron; herbs for example, ginger or garlic; and products like probiotics, and fish oils. Most dietary supplements can be safe, and can be beneficial for health; however, taking supplements can also implicate health risks. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not have the authority to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are produced, therefore it is very important to talk to a healthcare provider before deciding whether to take a supplement.

According to the Journal Increasing the Dietary Intake of Folate, studies showed that folic acid supplementation significantly reduce a woman's risk of bearing a child with a neural-tube defect, provided that the vitamins were taken before conception (PubMed.gov). Moreover, the article Safety Issues of Vitamin D Supplementation, states that since vitamin D deficiency is a global health problem, the supplement use of vitamin D is an effective measure to improve the insufficient levels of vitamin D (PubMed.gov). Furthermore, the Health Research Funding Organization suggest that the intake of dietary supplements can be very beneficial and work effectively along with a good diet and exercise. For example, Vitamin D3, Chondroitin and Calcium can improve joints and bone heath. Thus preventing osteoporosis and a healthy