dietary supplements

A new bill has been proposed which, if passed, will change the way dietary supplements are regulated in the US.

You can read the full bill here: Dietary Supplement Saftey Act of 2010.

Shelf after shelf of strangely named bottles fill an entire aisle at Whole Foods Market. There are "CoQ10" softgels, "charcoal" pills and mysterious "hoodia" tablets.

But why would anyone take charcoal? What exactly is a CoQ10? And can you eat a hoodia?

Atlas Operations, Inc. Recalls Many Sexual Enhancement Products (FDA; 12/15/2009)

GMP Herbal Products and FDA notified consumers and healthcare professionals of a recall of Pai You Guo, a weight loss dietary supplement, due to the presence of undeclared drug ingredients.

FDA lab analyses of dietary supplements were found to contain undeclared sibutramine, an FDA-approved drug used as an appetite suppressant for weight loss; and phenolphthalein, a solution used in chemical experiments and a suspected cancer-causing agent that is not approved for marketing in the United States.

Older adults tend to take a number of different prescription medications, and according to previous studies, they also often use dietary supplements.

Because of the potential for adverse interactions between prescription drugs and dietary supplements, it is important to learn as much as possible about the real-life practices of older people—the extent to which they take both prescription drugs and dietary supplements, and what kinds of drugs and supplements are being used.

Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are important for a number of functions in the body.

They are found in foods such as fatty fish and vegetable oils and are also available as dietary supplements.

People take omega-3 supplements to improve their health and prevent various diseases. This fact sheet provides a general overview of omega-3 fatty acids—with a focus on dietary supplements—and suggests sources for additional information.

Two of the most popular and promising dietary supplements - vitamin D and fish oil - will be tested in a large, government-sponsored study to see whether either nutrient can lower a healthy person's risk of getting cancer, heart disease or having a stroke....

Here is a look at how homeopathic drugs differ from conventional medicines and dietary supplements....

The federal Food and Drug Administration does not analyze the content of dietary supplements, which do not need proof of safety or effectiveness before they go on sale.

Here are tips from the government on their use:...

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Survey Sheds New Light on Adults'—and Children's—Use of CAM

A new national survey on Americans' use of CAM and, for the first time, data on children's use of CAM.

Also Featuring: Sorting Claims from Facts About CAM; Interview: Cognitive Disorders in Later Life; Children and CAM; Using Dietary Supplements Wisely; and other stories