Dietary Supplements and Medicines: How to Distinguish Them and Why It's Important for Your Health

In a world where health care is becoming increasingly important, many people turn to dietary supplements for support. However, it is important to distinguish them from regular medicines and be aware of the potential risks and benefits associated with their use.

Registration and quality control rules. One of the main differences between dietary supplements and medicines is the registration and quality control process. Dietary supplements are not subject to the same stringent requirements as medicines. Manufacturers of dietary supplements are not required to provide information on efficacy, interaction with other drugs, and other data that are usually contained in the annotations to medicines.

Post-production control. Another significant difference is post-production control. Unlike medicines, each batch of dietary supplements does not necessarily undergo a conformity check. This can lead to differences in the composition and amount of active ingredients between different batches and even within the same batch.

Health risks. There are studies that confirm the potential health risks associated with the use of dietary supplements. For example, a study in Italy found that some samples of dietary supplements contained undeclared ingredients, including prescription drugs.

Vitamins and minerals obtained from natural sources, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains, play an important role in maintaining health. However, when choosing dietary supplements, it is important to be careful and cautious, given the potential risks. If you have any doubts or concerns about your health, it is better to consult a doctor than to risk self-medication.

So, it is important to remember that although dietary supplements can be helpful in certain cases, they are not completely safe. It is important to take them with caution and awareness of the potential risks to your health.

Reference:

https://advancedmmc.com/supplements-vs-medications-key-differences/#:~:text=Supplements%20and%20medications%20are%20two,to%20treat%20and%20cure%20diseases.