Dietary Supplements – What Are They?

by Jane Jackson, RN, CRC – 4/23/2026 – BHealthyRN.com

Dietary supplements are a wide range of products intended to supplement your diet.  This can come in many forms including – tablets, capsules, soft gels, gel caps, powders, bars, gummies, and liquids.

Common supplements include:

• Vitamins (such as multivitamins or individual vitamins like vitamin D and biotin).
• Minerals (such as calcium, magnesium, and iron).
• Botanicals or herbs (such as echinacea and ginger).
• Botanical compounds (such as caffeine and curcumin).
• Amino acids (such as tryptophan and glutamine).
• Live microbials (referred to as probiotics)

Dietary supplements may also be referred to as Nutraceuticals (nutrition and pharmaceutical) and/or Herbaceuticals (herbal and pharmaceutical). Both are non-prescription dietary supplements.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines dietary supplements as any food substance or product taken by mouth that contains a dietary ingredient intended to add to what a person gets in their usual diet.   Different life events may need dietary supplement support.

Some examples are:

• Low selenium intake has been studied in relation to immune function.
• Vitamin D plays a role in bone and muscle health.
• Calcium, magnesium, and Vitamin D are commonly used to support bone health.
• People may use chondroitin and glucosamine sulfate for general joint comfort.

Some of the most common targets for dietary supplements include:

• Aging Well
• Allergy Support
• Bone/Joint Health
• Cellular Health
• Cognitive Health
• Metabolic Health
• Digestive Health
• Energy/Endurance Enhancement
• Eye Health
• Heart Health
• Immunity Boosters
• Inflammation Reduction
• Men’s Health
• Sexual Health
• Skin/Hair/Nails Health
• Weight Loss/Gain
• Women’s Health

Dietary supplements do not have the same requirements as prescription medications.  Dietary supplements can be sold without having to prove safety or effectiveness as long as the maker doesn’t claim it can treat, diagnose, prevent, or cure a disease.  Wording is more apt to be vague such as saying “may help with” or “may reduce effects of.”

Before being allowed to market a drug product, manufacturers must obtain FDA approval by providing evidence a product is both safe and effective. Once marketed, the FDA must prove the product is not safe to remove it from the market.

The label of a dietary supplement product must be truthful and contain at least one of three types of claims.

• Health Claim – describe a relationship between a food, food component, or dietary supplement ingredient and reducing the risk of a disease or health-related condition.
• Nutrient Content Claim – describe the relative amount of a nutrient or dietary substance in a product.
• Structure/Function Claim – describing how a product may affect the body. Product labels must include a disclaimer, “This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”

The FDA requires certain information appear on the dietary supplement label.

General information

• Name of product
• Disclosure the product is a supplement
• Quantity of contents
• Name and place of business of manufacturer, packer, or distributor
• Directions for use

Supplement Facts panel

• Serving size, list of dietary ingredients, amount per serving size (by weight), percent of Daily
• If a botanical, include the scientific name of the plant and the name of the plant part used
• If a proprietary blend, include the total weight of the blend and components of the blend in order of predominance by weight

Dietary supplements are not required by federal law to be tested for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed, so the amount of scientific evidence available for various supplement ingredients varies widely.

Dietary supplements may

• contain ingredients with strong side effects
• interact or interfere with other medications
• alter lab tests
• cause adverse/unexpected response

BEFORE taking a dietary supplement, talk with a healthcare professional for guidance in deciding which supplement, if any, is right for you.

• Review all ingredients
• Read all information
• Adhere to dosage recommendations
• Take only as directed
• Consider possible side effects and possible urgent/emergency intervention tactics
• Set realistic expectations – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Thank you for reading this.  Jane Jackson, RN, CRC

Note: Articles on BHealthyRN.com are to inform about medical conditions, non-prescription dietary supplements, and other health related topics.  There is no guarantee of positive outcomes.  Always consult your healthcare provider.

Jane Jackson, RN, CRC – 30+ year healthcare professional with experience in the hospital setting, outpatient setting, pharmacy data validation audits, and medical risk adjustment coding.  Living peacefully with my best friend/husband on the Texas Gulf Coast – enjoying writing, crocheting and fishing.