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Dietary supplement

Healthwise
By Jeannette Curtis

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A dietary supplement is a component found in foods (such as meats, grains, fruits, or vegetables) that can be singled out, extracted, and converted into another form, such as a pill or liquid.

Dietary supplements may be sold to the public without testing and approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Because of this, their effectiveness, purity, and quality are not known. For example, it is not required for manufacturers to detail how much of a product is the labeled supplement, such as melatonin, and how much of it is other substances or "fillers."

Credits

Author Jeannette Curtis
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Alfred Lewy, MD, PhD - Psychiatry
Last Updated July 28, 2008
Last Updated: 07/28/2008

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