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Dietary Supplements There are substances that can be ingested called dietary supplements. They come in many different forms that include, capsule, tablets, powder, and liquid. These supplements are not a good substitution for a proper diet, but can supplement it. Although dietary supplements cannot diagnose, prevent disease, cure, or treat they can help to maintain health and well-being. It is best to understand what the benefits and risk of dietary supplements are before using them. Dietary supplements can be beneficial for certain dietary problems or when a person is lacking required nutrients. They are good for a person who may not eat enough to meet their nutritional needs. If the diet does not meet the Daily Recommended Intake (DRI) then the dietary supplement called a multivitamin would be helpful. In other cases, when some adults become older their bodies ability to absorb and use the vitamins decrease. Older adults may have to use vitamin supplements. These will help to meet their recommended intake in the areas where they are deficient and help to prevent problems that can occur. There also may be health conditions that require the use of dietary supplements. One health condition is called Anemia. Anemia is a condition when the blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. One of the causes is from low levels of iron in the blood. Iron helps to make hemoglobin to deliver oxygen to the tissues. When this happens a person may feel fatigue. The condition would be referred to as Iron-deficiency anemia. Taking iron supplements in the form of a pill will help with this problem. Also taking Vitamin C will help the body absorb the iron. The recommended dosage for iron supplements is 45 mg. This also depends on how deficient the levels are. It is also possible for someone who is treated with iron supplements to take more than their body requires. When this happens it could cause constipation, liver damage, and death. The risk involved with taking dietary supplements can be dangerous. Some dietary supplements can interact with prescription medications. A person who takes a prescription called Coumadin should not take a vitamin K supplement. Coumadin is used to the thin the blood to prevent clots from forming. These blood clots can block the flow of blood to the heart or brain. Vitamin K can reduce or increase the effect that Coumadin has. Many different supplements should not be taken with this type of prescription medication. It would always be very important to discuss with a doctor when considering taking supplements while also taking prescription medications. The interaction of dietary supplements with prescription medications is not the only risk. Another risk that can come from taking these supplements is that levels can become toxic. Assumptions are made when these supplement labels read “all natural” then there is not any risk involved. Unlike prescription medication, dietary supplements are not approved by the government before they are available for consumers. The Food and Drug Administration sets a standard about the label on these supplements. The companies that make them are required to have a label that says “dietary supplement.” The label also has to include a Supplement Fact Panel which is something similar to the nutrition label on food products. This label includes what is included in the product and how much the dose is. The Food and Drug Administration can remove these supplements off the shelves of stores if they are found to be unsafe or harmful to humans. It is still up to the consumer not to exceed the recommend amounts that could cause toxic levels. Dietary supplements are used to supplement a diet. They can be beneficial to those with nutritional problems, but there are risks involved. Before taking any supplement it is best to ask a medical professional if taking prescription medications. It is also important to research about the supplement you are taking. These supplements are not approved by the government, but the Food and Drug Administration does have certain requirements before they can be put on the shelf for consumers to purchase. The best way to avoid all of this is to eat a healthy diet that consists of all the nutrients that are recommended.