Who Needs a Dietary Supplement?
Ads for supplements seem to promise to make you feel better, keep you from getting sick, or even help you live longer. Often there is little, if any, scientific support for these claims. In fact, some supplements can hurt you. Others are a waste of money because they don't give you any health benefits.
So, should you or your elderly parents take a supplement? You might want to talk to a doctor or a registered dietitian to answer that question. A friend, neighbor, or someone on a commercial shouldn't be suggesting a supplement for you or an elderly relative.
Are These Supplements Safe?
If you or your senior parent is thinking about taking a supplement, you should remember that these "over-the-counter" substances are not like the penicillin or blood pressure medicine a doctor might prescribe. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has to check prescription drugs to make sure they are safe and do what they promise before they are sold. The same is true for "over-the-counter drugs" like cold and pain medicines. It is not the FDA's job to check dietary supplements in the same way. That means that they are not reviewed by the FDA before being sold. However, it is the FDA's job to take action against unsafe products on the market. Only if enough people report problems with a dietary supplement, can the FDA study these possible problems and take action.