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An estimated 150 million Americans consume dietary supplements ranging from vitamins, minerals and herbs, to sports nutrition and weight loss elixirs. While a new FDA ruling puts tighter regulations on supplements, consumers are still charged with answering a battery of questions about the products for themselves. "Nutritional supplementation greatly depends on what you eat, what your body absorbs, what medical conditions you have, where you are in the life cycle and what medicines you take," says Cynthia Lieu, Pharm.D., an associate professor at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Pharmacy. According to Lieu, supplements are not intended as a substitute for a healthy, balanced diet. But she does note that certain individuals may benefit from a daily multivitamin. This is especially important for women of childbearing age who absolutely need 400 micrograms of folic acid on a daily basis, she says. While folic acid is included in most multivitamin formulas, women may also choose to take the supplement individually. People on restrictive diets, such as vegans, require some supplementation to prevent deficiencies. Individuals who do not adequately absorb nutrients, due to gastrointestinal disease as an example, are also good candidates for supplementation. "There are many reasons why a person may need a multivitamin or a specific nutrient to supplement dietary intake. It's very important to discuss your special needs with your physician, pharmacist or dietitian," says Lieu. Lieu cautions that dietary supplements may cause interactions with medications, whether prescription or over-the counter. "This is another very important reason to discuss your supplement regimen with your health-care provider," she says.
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