What Dietary Supplements Are You Taking?
With the abundance of conflicting information available about dietary supplements, it is more important than ever to talk with your doctor and other health care providers (dietitian, nurse, pharmacist, etc.) to help you sort the reliable ... [... more]
Office of Dietary Supplements |
Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Calcium
Office of Dietary Supplements • National Institutes of Health Recommendations for calcium are provided in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) developed by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences. For calcium, the ... [... more]
Office of Dietary Supplements |
Botanical Dietary Supplements: Background Information
Does a label indicate the quality of a botanical dietary supplement product? What are some additional sources of information on botanical dietary supplements? A botanical is a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal or therapeutic ... [... more]
Office of Dietary Supplements |
Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Iron
Almost two-thirds of iron in the body is found in hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to tissues. Smaller amounts of iron are found in myoglobin, a protein that helps supply oxygen to muscle, and in enzymes that assist ... [... more]
Office of Dietary Supplements |
Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B12
Who else may need a vitamin B12 supplement to prevent a deficiency? What is the relationship between vitamin B12 homocysteine, and cardiovascular disease? Vitamin B12 is bound to the protein in food. Hydrochloric acid in the stomach releases ... [... more]
Office of Dietary Supplements |
Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Selenium
What are some current issues and controversies about selenium? Plant foods are the major dietary sources of selenium in most countries throughout the world. The content of selenium in food depends on the selenium content of the soil where plants ... [... more]
Office of Dietary Supplements |
Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D
There is considerable discussion of the serum concentrations of 25(OH)D associated with deficiency (e.g., rickets), adequacy for bone health, and optimal overall health (Table 1). A concentration of <20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) (or <50 ... [... more]
Office of Dietary Supplements |
What is valerian?
What clinical studies have been done on valerian and sleep disorders? What is the regulatory status of valerian in the United States? Does valerian interact with any drugs or affect laboratory tests? What are some additional sources of scientific ... [... more]
Office of Dietary Supplements |
Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Folate
What are some common signs and symptoms of folate deficiency? Do women of childbearing age and pregnant women have a special need for folate? What are some current issues and controversies about folate? Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin that ... [... more]
Office of Dietary Supplements |
Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin A and Carotenoids
In general, there are two categories of vitamin A, depending on whether the food source is an animal or a plant. Vitamin A found in foods that come from animals is called preformed vitamin A. It is absorbed in the form of retinol, one of the most ... [... more]
Office of Dietary Supplements |
Black Cohosh
What clinical studies have been done on black cohosh and its effect on menopausal symptoms? What is the regulatory status of black cohosh in the United States? Does black cohosh interact with any drugs or laboratory tests? What are some ... [... more]
Office of Dietary Supplements |
Magnesium: What is it?
What are some current issues and controversies about magnesium? Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is essential to good health. Approximately 50% of total body magnesium is found in bone. The other half is found ... [... more]
Office of Dietary Supplements |