Dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA as foods, not drugs. However, many dietary supplements contain ingredients that have strong biological effects that may conflict with a medication you are taking or with a medical condition you may have. Although the FDA does not approve dietary supplements, the agency has a role in regulating them. Are your supplements approved by the FDA? Not exactly.
While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines dietary supplements and regulates labeling and other safety practices, it does not have the authority to approve the use of a particular supplement. The approval and regulation of dietary supplements is a sensitive issue. No, the FDA doesn't have to approve supplements before they hit the market. However, that doesn't mean that the world of vitamins and supplements is a game of all against all.
Still, it's smart to take precautions when choosing the right supplement for you. While the practical purposes of the FDA are more focused on evaluating how well a supplement brand complies with existing laws related to safety and labeling, the FTC is specifically concerned with how the product is marketed. For example, you shouldn't take vitamin E when taking blood thinners because this could thin your blood too much and cause internal bleeding. In the case of a dietary supplement, the FDA oversees the specific components of manufacturing and labeling a product, in accordance with the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. Multivitamins, vitamin D, echinacea, and fish oil are among the many dietary supplements found on store shelves or available online.
Supplement manufacturers are responsible for complying with FDA regulations, and partnering with a trusted private label supplement provider can greatly simplify your office process. The FDA does not determine if vitamins and other supplements are truly effective; as the FDA itself points out, it is the manufacturers who must ensure that their products are safe and that the claims they print on their labels are accurate. This burden falls on consumers in large part because the FDA doesn't regulate or approve supplements the same way it does with a drug. When a product goes on sale, the FDA closely monitors the manufacture and labeling of nutritional supplements and inspects companies to ensure compliance.
However, like the FDA, these organizations do not guarantee that products are safe or effective, only that they have the ingredients they claim to have and that they do not contain any contaminants. Despite regulations and FDA and FTC approval, there are ways to save money and generally be dishonest as a supplement company. Because FDA-approved supplements don't exist, but they're more beneficial for people with specific dietary needs or for people with certain medical conditions, your doctor can help you determine which supplements are best for you, how much you should take (it may be different from what's on the package), if they'll interfere with any medical treatment you're already receiving, or anything else that's specific to your situation. If a supplement company doesn't comply with FDA regulations, the FDA may prohibit you from selling your product.
If you experience an adverse effect, also known as a side effect or adverse reaction, the FDA recommends that you and your health professional report the adverse event to the FDA. For example, calcium and vitamin D can help strengthen bones, and fiber can help maintain bowel regularity. If you're creating a private label supplement brand, you'll need some guidance to make sure you're following FDA and FTC guidelines.
Leave Message