Dietary Supplements Overview

Introduction

• Dietary supplements, when used correctly, can support health, training, and athletic performance.
• Some supplements are beneficial, others are not, and some can be harmful.
• Ensuring supplements are legitimate is crucial for athletic considerations.
• Poor manufacturing or intentional spiking with illegal substances can result in a positive drug test.

Prevalence of Supplement Use

• Difficult to quantify among athletes due to limited research and inconsistent methodologies.
• Inconsistent research design and lack of homogeneity among studies exacerbate the issue.

Regulatory Bodies and Acts

• FDA: Food and Drug Administration
• FTC: Federal Trade Commission
• DSHEA: Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994
• These terms are important when discussing legality and federal regulations of supplements.

Legal Definition of Supplements

• A product taken by mouth with dietary ingredients to supplement the diet.
• Dietary ingredients include vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, organ tissues, glandulars, and metabolites.
• Forms include tablets, capsules, liquids, powders, sports bars, or shakes.
• Labels cannot imply the product should replace a meal or substitute a food diet.

FDA and Supplements

• FDA does not approve dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness before market release.
• Manufacturer's responsibility to ensure label accuracy and content matching.
• FDA must prove a supplement is harmful to take action.
• Very under-regulated compared to food and drugs.

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)

• Focus on identity, purity, quality, strength, and composition of supplements.
• Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring product safety and label accuracy.

Supplement Facts Panel and Claims

• Supplements must have a supplement facts panel listing dietary and other ingredients.
• Recommended serving size determined by the manufacturer.
• Nutrient content claims describe the quantity of a nutrient and must be FDA authorized.
• Health claims describe the nutrient's relationship to reduced disease risk and require scientific agreement.
• Structure and function claims focus on general well-being, not specific diseases.

Evaluating Supplements

• Review product brand, name, claims, and key ingredients quantity.
• National brands tend to be more reputable.
• Look for voluntary certifications: USP, NSF, informed choice.
• Third-party certifications help ensure supplement quality and prevent contamination.

Potential Dangers and Testing

• Supplements might contain undeclared prohibited substances due to poor manufacturing.
• US Anti-Doping Agency manages testing programs, with strict liability for athletes testing positive for banned substances.

Tips for Safe Supplement Use

• Look for trusted certifications (USP, NSF, informed choice).
• Be aware of potential contamination from poor manufacturing practices.
• Check fda's medication health fraud website for hazardous products.

Conclusion

• Importance of carefully evaluating supplements for safety and effectiveness.
• Regulatory agencies and third-party certifications play key roles in maintaining supplement standards.
• Athletes should be cautious of banned substances and check certifications to ensure product integrity.