National Institutes of Health • National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Safe Use of Dietary Supplements
Natural products such as herbal medicines or botanicals are often sold as dietary supplements and are readily available to consumers; however, there is a lot we don't know about the safety of many of these products, in part because a manufacturer does not have to prove the safety and effectiveness of a dietary supplement before it is available to the public.
Two of the main safety concerns for dietary supplements are
- The possibilities of drug interactions—for example, research has shown that St. John's wort interacts with drugs such as antidepressants in ways that can interfere with their intended effects
- The possibilities of product contamination—supplements have been found to contain hidden prescription drugs or other compounds, particularly in dietary supplements marketed for weight loss, sexual health including erectile dysfunction, and athletic performance or body-building.
This issue provides information about the safe use of dietary supplements, including the Federal regulation of dietary supplements, sources of science-based information, and tips for talking with your patients.
Read more about what the science says
Jump to: Clinical Guidelines | Scientific Literature | Research Spotlights | Info for Patients
Clinical Guidelines
Scientific Literature
Research Spotlights
Information for Your Patients
NCCAM Clinical Digest is a service of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NIH, DHHS. NCCAM Clinical Digest, a monthly e-newsletter, offers evidence-based information on CAM, including scientific literature searches, summaries of NCCAM-funded research, fact sheets for patients, and more.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is dedicated to exploring complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science, training CAM researchers, and disseminating authoritative information to the public and professionals. For additional information, call NCCAM’s Clearinghouse toll-free at 1-888-644-6226, or visit the NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov. NCCAM is 1 of 27 institutes and centers at the National Institutes of Health, the Federal focal point for medical research in the United States.
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