Understanding Dietary Supplements

For many consumers, taking one or more dietary supple-ments is a natural addition to a healthy lifestyle. The decision to take a dietary supplement may be based on the recommendation of a doctor, a dietitian, or a friend. Television, newspapers, magazines, websites, and persuasive marketing materials in the pharmacy or supermarket may sway buyers. Information regarding dietary supplements abounds but can be misleading or contradictory. "Understanding Dietary Supplements" is a guide to making informed choices. Chapters provide Both an overview and detailed information about key supplementsCoverage of a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals, herbs and botanicals, drugs, and other optionsJargon-free explanations of how each supplement can work on the bodySafety concerns about interactions and misuseRegulations imposed on the industry and recent trends in the industry's developmentA glossary and listings of outside resourcesIncluded here, the full text of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994--the model for the FDA's regulation of dietary supplements--affords guidance to deciphering labels and determining value. "Understanding Dietary Supplements" is an easy-to-use guide to a much demanded but often misunderstood group of products. Jenna Hollenstein is clinical editor at the Pri-Med Institute of M-C Communications in Boston, Massachusetts. Her work has been published in "Nutrition Reviews," "Nutrition in Clinical Care," "ILSI News," "Pri-Med in Practice," and "Pri-Med Online."