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       #Post#: 826--------------------------------------------------
       8 facts to know about supplements
       By: agate Date: June 12, 2015, 11:16 pm
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       Many people with MS take supplements and are sure that they are
       helpful in maintaining or restoring health. We're advised to be
       cautious about supplements, though.
       From the Berkeley Wellness Letter, June 9, 2015:
       [quote]8 Facts to Know About Supplements
       About two-thirds of American adults take at least one dietary
       supple­ment, most often multivitamin/mineral pills. And yet, of
       all the decisions and purchases we make pertaining to our
       health, selecting supplements puts us on less secure ground than
       nearly anything else.
       That's primarily because supplements are only lightly regulated
       by the FDA. Manufacturers don't have to prove efficacy or
       safety. Federal law limits what kind of health claims can be
       made on labels, in ads, and on the Internet, but many marketers
       make illegal, unsubstantiated claims for months, even years,
       before the FDA cracks down on them. Still, some supplements are
       clearly beneficial and come in standard doses. No wonder people
       are con­fused. It's the Wild West out there.
       Here are some general tips to keep in mind when—or if—you buy
       supplements.
       General pointers
       ~Large, long-term, well-designed clinical trials are lacking for
       most dietary supple­ments (with some exceptions, such as
       vita­mins and minerals). The great majority of studies on
       supplements have been small, short, or poorly designed, and
       results are generally inconsistent.
       ~Just because supplements are sold without a prescription, are
       often touted as "natural," and come with no warnings on their
       labels, that doesn’t mean they are safe. Adverse effects are
       seldom reported, so safety remains a ques­tion.
       ~Supplements can have a powerful and unpredictable impact on the
       body, possibly affecting blood sugar, blood clotting, blood
       pressure, hormone activity, liver function, and more. What’s
       more, many supple­ments (particularly herbs) can interact with
       prescription or OTC medications.If you experience side effects
       from a sup­plement, report it to the FDA as well as to your
       health care provider. You can file a report at MedWatch.
       ~The bottles may not even contain what the labels say. Over the
       years there have been numerous reports of products with much
       less, or more, than what's listed on the labels. Worse yet,
       supplements have been found to contain undisclosed pre­scription
       drugs as well as contaminants. Herbs are especially problematic
       because they are very complicated chemically. They can vary
       greatly in their composition, and it’s often not clear which
       compounds pro­duce the proposed effects, making herbal
       preparations hard to standardize. Manu­facturers are supposed to
       follow "good manufacturing practices" to ensure iden­tity,
       purity, and composition of their prod­ucts, but are largely
       self-policing since the FDA lacks the resources to fully monitor
       compliance. There are private watchdogs, notably ConsumerLab.com
       and USP (U.S. Pharmacopeia), which analyze and certify
       supplements, but these are limited in scope and don't address
       the bigger questions: Are the products safe and do they work as
       claimed?
       ~If you have a medical condition or are about to have surgery,
       tell your health care provider if you are taking any
       supplements. Better yet, discuss them before you start taking
       them. Don't rely on supplements to self-treat a serious health
       problem. In par­ticular, don't substitute a supplement for
       medication you have been prescribed.
       ~Pregnant or nursing women should avoid most supplements, except
       as advised by their health care providers. The same goes for
       children.
       ~Supplements can't substitute for a good diet or cancel out the
       effects of bad habits like smoking or not exercising.
       Don't be swayed by anecdotal evi­dence about supplements and
       celebrity endorsements, often found on the Internet.
       Testimonials are meaningless.
       ~Be wary of anti-aging claims. So far there is no supplement,
       medication, or other substance that will stop or slow the aging
       process.
       [/quote]
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