Dietary Supplements: Information for Health and Wellbeing
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 4 Aug 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
A guide to dietary supplements, including vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids, plus how they are defined, regulated, and used to fill dietary gaps.
At a Glance
- 1 - There are more than 50,000 dietary supplements available on the market.
- 2 - Over half of US adults, roughly 53 to 55 percent, take dietary supplements, with multivitamins the most common choice.
- 3 - In the US, supplements are defined as foods under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, while other countries may classify them as drugs.
- 4 - The main groups include vitamins and co-vitamins, essential minerals, essential fatty acids, essential amino acids, glyconutrients, and phytonutrients.
Topic Definition
- Dietary Supplement
A dietary supplement, sometimes called a food supplement or nutritional supplement, is a product taken to provide nutrients that a person's regular diet may not supply in adequate amounts. These products commonly contain vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, or amino acids, along with herbs, botanicals, and other substances, and they come in familiar forms such as pills, capsules, tablets, powders, and liquids. Rather than replacing a meal, a supplement is meant to add to what someone already eats, filling gaps that can occur when a diet leans heavily on a few staple foods. How a supplement is treated in law varies from place to place: US authorities classify them as foods, whereas other countries may regulate certain products as drugs. Because their effects differ from person to person and can interact with medications, health professionals advise speaking with a doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplement.
Overview
NOTE: In the U.S. dietary supplements are minimally regulated by the FDA and may or may not be suitable for you. The effects of supplements vary from person to person and depend on many variables, including type, dosage, frequency of use, and interactions with current medications. Please speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking any supplements.
A dietary supplement, also known as food supplement or nutritional supplement, is defined as a substance intended to provide nutrients that may otherwise not be consumed in sufficient quantities.
Supplements as generally understood include vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, or amino acids, among other substances. U.S. authorities define dietary supplements as foods, while elsewhere they may be classified as drugs or other products. There are more than 50,000 dietary supplements available. More than half of the U.S. adult population (53% - 55%) consume dietary supplements, with the most common ones being multivitamins.
According to the U.S. FDA, dietary supplements are products which are not pharmaceutical drugs, food additives like spices or preservatives, or conventional food, and:
- The product is labeled as a dietary supplement.
- The product is intended to supplement a person's diet, despite it not being usable as a meal replacement.
- The product is or contains a vitamin, dietary element, herb used for herbalism or botanical used as a medicinal plant, amino acid, any substance which contributes to other food eaten, or any concentrate, metabolite, ingredient, extract, or combination of these things.
Some countries define dietary supplements as foods, while in others they are defined as drugs. The hormones DHEA (a steroid), pregnenolone (also a steroid) and the pineal hormone melatonin are marketed as dietary supplements in the U.S.
Food fortification is the public health policy of adding micronutrients - essential trace elements and vitamins - to foodstuffs to ensure that minimum dietary requirements are met, as simple diets based on staple foods with little variation are often deficient in certain nutrients.
Several ranges of food supplements are recognized:
- Additives which repair a deficit to "normal" levels.
- Additives which appear to enhance a food.
- Supplements taken in addition to the normal diet.
Main Groups of Supplements
- Vitamins and co-vitamins
- Essential minerals
- Essential fatty acids
- Essential amino acids
- Glyconutrients
- Phytonutrients
In the United States, a dietary supplement is defined under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act as a product intended to supplement the diet and contains any of the following dietary ingredients:
- A vitamin
- A mineral
- A herb or other botanical (excluding tobacco)
- An amino acid
- A dietary substance for use by people to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake
- A concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of the above
Furthermore, it must also conform to the following criteria:
- Intended for ingestion in pill, capsule, tablet, powder or liquid form
- Not represented for use as conventional food or as the sole item of a meal or diet
- Be labeled as a "dietary supplement"
Interesting Supplement Facts
- In the early 20th century, there were great hopes for supplements, but later research has shown these hopes were unfounded.
- Dietary supplements are unnecessary if one eats a balanced diet.
- According to University of Helsinki food safety professor Marina Heinonen, more than 90% of dietary supplement health claims are incorrect.
- The intended use of dietary supplements is to ensure that a person gets enough essential nutrients.
- The number of incidents of liver damage from dietary supplements has tripled in a decade.
- Supplements may create harm in several ways, including over-consumption, particularly of minerals and fat-soluble vitamins, which can build up in the body.
- Bodybuilding supplements are dietary supplements commonly used by those involved in bodybuilding and athletics.
- The European Union's Food Supplements Directive of 2002 requires that supplements be demonstrated to be safe, both in dosages and in purity.
- The regulation of food and dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is governed by various statutes enacted by the United States Congress and interpreted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to take dietary supplements if I eat a balanced diet
Most people who eat a varied, balanced diet get the nutrients they need from food alone, though a doctor may recommend supplements for specific deficiencies, life stages, or medical conditions.
Are dietary supplements regulated by the FDA
In the US supplements are only minimally regulated by the FDA and are treated as foods rather than drugs, so they do not undergo the same approval process as medications.
Can you take too many vitamins or minerals
Yes, over-consumption can cause harm, especially with minerals and fat-soluble vitamins that build up in the body, so it is important to follow recommended doses and seek professional advice.
Can supplements interact with prescription medications
Yes, some supplements can affect how medications work, which is why you should tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take before starting a new product.
What is the difference between a supplement and a fortified food
A supplement is a separate product taken to add nutrients, while food fortification adds micronutrients directly into everyday foods to help populations meet minimum dietary requirements.
Are natural or herbal supplements always safe
Not necessarily, since natural does not mean risk free, and herbal products can have side effects, interact with drugs, or vary in purity, so professional guidance is advised.
How do I choose a good quality supplement
Look for products with clear labeling, third party testing or quality certifications, appropriate dosages, and guidance from your healthcare provider on what suits your needs.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.
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