Healthcare

An Overview of Dietary Supplements

The most commonly dietary supplements used to maintain or restore health are vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, and other substances. They are described briefly here.

Vitamins are organic compounds required in small amounts to maintain the normal physiological functions and to restore health. On the basis of their solubility, vitamins are classified as fat-soluble vitamins—A, D, E, K—and water-soluble vitamins—thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, cobalamine, and vitamin C. Vitamins are not synthesized in our body in an amount adequate to meet the normal physiological need; however, they are naturally present in foods, and therefore, a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of foods should meet the daily requirements for various vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body if consumed in excess and can cause toxicity, whereas water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body, and the excess is generally excreted in the urine.

Similar to vitamins, minerals are not made by the body and must be obtained through the diet or supplements. Minerals are inorganic molecules that are essential for health and the maintenance of body functions. Minerals required by adults in excess of 100 mg/day are known as macrominerals—calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chloride, and sulfur, whereas minerals for which less than 100 mg/day is required are known as microminerals or trace elements—iron, zinc, iodine, selenium, manganese, fluoride, molybdenum, copper, chromium, cobalt, and boron. Minerals constitute about 4–5 percent of total body weight.

In addition to vitamins and minerals, herbal supplements, also known as botanicals, are widely used as health supplements. Herbal supplements are plants or plant parts (e.g., leaves, flowers, seeds, bark, etc.) valued for their medicinal properties, flavor, and scent. These supplements may contain a single herb or mixtures of herbs. Commonly used herbal supplements include echinacea, ginseng, gingko biloba, garlic, ginger, flaxseeds, and St. John's wort.

...