Dietary Supplements

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Dietary Supplements

Dietary Supplements (pronunciation: /ˈdaɪətɛri ˈsʌplɪmənts/) are products intended to supplement the diet that contain one or more of the following dietary ingredients: a vitamin, a mineral, an herb or other botanical, an amino acid, a dietary substance for use by humans to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake, or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of any of the aforementioned ingredients.

Etymology

The term 'Dietary Supplements' is derived from the English words 'dietary', meaning 'related to diet', and 'supplement', meaning 'something added to complete a thing, supply a deficiency, or reinforce or extend a whole'.

Related Terms

  • Vitamin: An organic molecule that is an essential micronutrient which an organism needs in small quantities for the proper functioning of its metabolism.
  • Mineral: A solid, naturally occurring substance that has a definite chemical composition and crystal structure.
  • Herb: A plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor, or therapeutic properties.
  • Amino Acid: Organic compounds that combine to form proteins.
  • Dietary Substance: A substance that is consumed to provide nutritional support for the body.

Usage

Dietary Supplements are used to ensure that adequate amounts of essential nutrients are consumed, to improve health, to boost the immune system, to improve mental acuity, and to prevent chronic diseases.

Safety and Regulation

In many countries, including the United States, dietary supplements are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are classified as food, not drugs. Therefore, they are not subject to the same testing, manufacturing, and labeling standards and regulations as drugs.

See Also

External links

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