According to the CDC, half of all adults in the United States regularly consume Dietary Supplements like pills, powders, and drinks in an effort to improve their health. These supplements are commonly used to increase vitamin and mineral intake, boost energy levels, and treat a variety of other purported health issues.

About $35 billion is spent annually in the U.S. on Dietary Supplements, many of which may only be useful for particular populations. These include vegans and persons with disorders that hinder proper fat absorption, such as Crohn's disease. However, difficulties after surgery, such as bleeding and an altered response to the anesthetic, might be exacerbated by the use of supplements. Drug interactions and unwanted side effects, such as headaches and nausea, are also possible. According to research that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2015, around 23,000 Americans annually go to the ER due to issues associated with dietary supplements.

Prior to beginning any supplement regimen, it is recommended that you review the information provided in the following five guidelines.

Do Your Homework

However, unlike prescription drugs, makers of dietary supplements are not subject to the same severe standards in order to sell their products. As opposed to prescription drugs, dietary supplements are not subject to approval by the US Food and Drug Administration prior to being made available to the public. Instead, it is on to producers and sellers to make sure their goods are safe for consumers to use before they put them on the market. This means that there is little assurance that the supplement was tested at all, much less thoroughly.

It has been shown by a study published in Clinical Toxicology this past September that not all supplements actually contain the chemicals or dosages that are advertised. Researchers looked at the levels of higenamine, a stimulant that could be bad for your heart, in 24 different weight loss and pre-workout pills. Only five goods have the labeled amount of the component.

In another study published in October 2018 in JAMA Network Open, researchers analyzed over 700 warnings issued by the FDA between 2007 and 2016 regarding dietary supplements containing unapproved substances. The bulk of the questioned supplements was used to aid in either sexual performance or enhancement, weight loss, or muscle development. Usually, the contaminated drugs were powerful pharmaceuticals that might have deadly side effects or interact with other prescriptions.

Nearly 99% of supplements included at least one dangerous or banned substance that wasn't disclosed on the label, and about 20% had two or more.

Not all manufacturers and distributors were conscientious in their efforts to remove potentially dangerous components from their products, with just 46% of these products being voluntarily recalled. Nearly 68% of items that were discovered to be tainted more than once were reported to have new medication components in their second or third warnings, the study revealed. This means that people can still buy potentially harmful supplements despite widespread awareness of the risks they pose.

It's not hard to find dietary supplement-related websites; the challenge is finding ones that provide accurate information. Before beginning any new supplement regimen, it is recommended that you consult authoritative resources, such as the National Institutes of Health's website or your pharmacist, and your doctor.

Beware of False Claims

Research suggests that taking calcium and vitamin D supplements can enhance bone health, while folic acid helps avoid birth defects including spina bifida and anencephaly. Some supplements, however, do not deliver the promised results, and additional study is required for others. The National Institutes of Health report that many so-called weight-loss pills (also known as fat burners or appetite suppressants) fail to produce the desired long-term results and can even be hazardous.

Keep an eye out for the word "natural" as well. This is not necessarily indicative of a safe supplement. Although many herbal remedies have a relatively high safety profile, it is possible for them to become tainted during manufacturing or even be deliberately adulterated with real pharmaceuticals.

Still others, such as kava and comfrey, can be detrimental to the liver and are therefore unavailable for oral consumption in the United States and can only be purchased as an ointment (which may still be dangerous). It has been found that the antidepressant herb St. John's wort reduces the effectiveness of birth control and other drugs.

Keep Your Doctor Informed

Supplemental diet plans should be tailored to the individual. Always with your doctor first before beginning any new treatment. Although it may seem obvious, many people fail to inform their doctors about the supplements they take.

One-third of 149 participants over the age of 65 who were also taking prescription medications hadn't mentioned supplement use to their doctor, according to a cross-sectional survey published in the British Journal of General Practice in 2018. Vitamin K, for instance, can lessen the efficacy of blood thinners needed to avoid clots, albeit this is just one example of a supplement that can alter the effectiveness of another prescription.

Follow Directions Carefully

To avoid adverse effects, supplements should never be used together or in excess of the authorized dosage. Take only the supplements your doctor prescribes, and never use them in place of your regular prescription.

Warning labels should be read as well. No one, especially pregnant or nursing women, those with food allergies, small children, or the elderly, should ever take a supplement without first consulting with their doctor. You should discuss the use of supplements with your doctor so that he or she can determine the safety of using them in conjunction with any preexisting conditions or other medications you may be taking.

Don’t Take Supplements with These Ingredients

A study by Consumer Reports concluded that there are 15 common chemicals in dietary supplements that people should never take. Kidney and liver failure, paralysis, seizures, coma, and death are only some of the potential side effects of these toxic substances.

• Aconite
• Caffeine Powder
• Chaparral
• Coltsfoot
• Comfrey
• Germander
• Greater Celandine
• Green Tea Extract Powder
• Kava
• Lobelia
• Methylsynephrine
• Pennyroyal Oil
• Red Yeast Rice
• Usnic Acid
• Yohimbe

What you've been taking, how often, and for how long all have a role in determining whether or not you'll have serious reactions to the substances.

Caffeine powder, methylsynephrine, and red yeast rice are just a few of the components that have the potential to interact with cholesterol-lowering statins, blood-thinning medications like aspirin, and other stimulants. In spite of the study's findings, you can find these substances in supplements sold at your local pharmacy.

There are plenty of adults who don't need to take vitamin or mineral supplements because they acquire all the nutrients they need from their diet. Prior to beginning any supplement regimen, it is recommended that you consult with your doctor, pharmacist, and nutritionist. They will be able to advise you on whether or not taking dietary supplements will be beneficial to you.