Five things you need to know about supplements

An estimated 68 percent of American adults take nutritional supplements, according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition. However, despite their popularity, these products are tainted with a great deal of misinformation and a general lack of understanding of their benefits and risks. I have seen firsthand how the correct use of certain supplements can help improve health and wellness. But some risks come with taking supplements without consulting trained professionals.

What you should know

Here are five facts everyone should know about taking supplements:

Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s safe. While some natural supplements have a number of benefits, including relatively few side effects, they can be harmful if taken incorrectly. It’s also important to know that some natural supplements may be safe for a healthy person, but not for someone with certain health conditions. This is why it is important to speak with a doctor or dietitian before taking a new supplement.

Many nutritional supplements have not been previously approved for safety by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Many people are surprised to learn that the Food and Drug Administration does not pre-approval on the safety and effectiveness of many supplements. This means that some products may be contaminated, contain unknown ingredients, or provide incorrect dosing information. The best way to avoid these risky products is to seek advice from a healthcare professional familiar with the use of supplements.

In some cases, supplements can help relieve symptoms when used properly. A 2012 joint report from the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society concluded that butterbur extract may help some people with migraine headaches. Additionally, some research has suggested that red yeast rice may help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, although the study suggests there are some risks involved. These are just two examples of how mainstream science has explored the use of supplements to help improve medical conditions.

Some supplements can interact negatively with medications. People often don’t stop to think about how dietary supplements interact with other medications. These interactions can lead to a number of side effects: unexpected toxicity, limitations in the efficacy of some drugs, and sometimes an increased risk of bleeding, liver and kidney damage, and central nervous system depression. However, a 2005 study showed that 25 percent of chemotherapy patients surveyed used dietary supplements suspected of causing adverse reactions with their cancer treatment, but many did not consult a healthcare professional.

Supplements are being incorporated into cancer treatment. In the fight against cancer, many people assume that treatment is limited to chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. But increasingly these days, the growing arsenal of potential options also contains integrative therapies, including herbal and non-herbal supplements that can help alleviate some of the side effects of some cancer treatments. For example, ginger can help control severe nausea in some patients, and some patients have used zinc to improve taste changes after chemotherapy. However, before taking any supplement, cancer survivors and patients undergoing cancer treatment should proactively consult with a qualified healthcare professional.

The growing demand and respect for nutritional supplements in today’s society bodes well for many of us in the field of integrative therapy. I think in the future we will see more supplements used along with appropriate medications and additional integrative therapies to support patients’ overall quality of life. To keep pace with the evolving understanding of supplement use and to protect against certain risks, it is extremely important that the public understand these products and only take them under the advice of a medical professional.