What are dietary supplements (NEM) actually?
Food supplements are products made from concentrated nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect.
Which controls are dietary supplements subject to?
Supplementary foodstuffs are among the foods and, unlike pharmaceuticals, do not go through any approval procedures. Only registration with the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) is mandatory. The manufacturers are solely responsible for the safety of supplements (www.bfr.bund.de; Accessed 06/30/2021).
Are there standards for multivitamin or multimineral supplements?
There is no standard or regulatory definition of a multivitamin or multimineral supplement – e.g. B. which nutrients it must contain and in what quantities. Therefore, the term can refer to products with very different compositions and properties (Yetley 2007). Manufacturers alone determine the dose, composition, and chemical compounds used of vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients in their multivitamin/multimineral supplements. Therefore, consumers are left to their own devices when it comes to choosing dietary supplements.
Are there reasons that could speak for taking dietary supplements?
In favor of possible food supplements, the fact that not only nutrition but also the content of nutrients and vital substances in plants has changed in the course of industrial production due to depleted soil, air pollution, rapid growth and long storage has changed. Genetic modifications, the use of pesticides, exposure to heavy metals and atmospheric changes affect the potency of plants. In addition, there is a possible loss of vitamins due to the preparation forms. In many countries there are fundamental vitamin deficiencies due to different levels of solar radiation. Malnutrition could also result from eating junk food, convenience foods, too much grain, sugary drinks, etc.
However, according to studies, supplements are often taken by people who already eat a nutritious diet, which can increase the likelihood of overdose and excessive nutrient intake.
It’s all about your health?
I was surprised at how much sales are made with dietary supplements. NEM are a big economic market. Sales of nutritional supplements have increased by an average of 6% per year over the past five years; In Germany, sales of almost 2.1 billion euros were achieved in 2018 (IQVIA and Statista 2020) and, according to the information service IQVIA, in 2021 around 2.69 billion euros.
If you believe the manufacturers, the preparations are an indispensable contribution to health care. The extent to which their intake actually makes sense is a matter of controversy, with the evidence that speaks against it predominating.
Is there transparency in advice on dietary supplements in relation to financial interests?
I have noticed several times how nutritional supplements were advised in workshops and that speakers were involved in profiting from the sale of certain preparations without making this transparent.
In particular, the public relations work of nutritional supplement companies, where quasi “neutral” health consultants and “scientists” – without making it clear that they are employed, freelance, profit-sharing or have a stake in the company – “advise” on health behavior and do so incidentally try to bring their preparations to women and men, surprised me negatively.
From my point of view, the customers are tempted to buy here. Such amalgamations of interests would have to be made public in studies. But not in courses, on websites, in podcasts and YouTube videos.
In numerous practices, too, the profit-sharing of the therapists who motivate patients to order supplements from companies or to buy them themselves often ranges from 10% to over 30%. If you are motivated to buy certain preparations, ask your therapists whether they receive a percentage of the sale.
For a short time I was motivated to try many supplements. However, due to health issues, I gave up on it again.
Are there connections between the intake of dietary supplements, other addictions and personality traits?
Taking dietary supplements can lead to an illusion of sanctity and reduce self-regulation when smoking (Chiou et al. 2011).
Protein/amino acid consumers in soldiers were associated with the following personality traits (Hatch et al. 2019): seeking experience (p<0.001), susceptibility to boredom (p<0.001), seeking thrills (p<0.001), disinhibition ( p<0.01), novelty (p<0.001) and intensity (p<0.001).
If you are considering taking nutritional supplements, such as a multivitamin or multimineral supplement, note the following:
- Pay attention to the dose
Excessive intake of individual vitamins or minerals should be avoided or only if it is medically necessary, as overdoses can have harmful effects, e.g. B. with regular daily intake of several grams of vitamin C or high intake of fat-soluble vitamins.
- GMP label
NEM should at least be provided with the GMP label. GMP means »Good Manufacturing Practice«. This is the part of quality assurance that ensures that products are consistently manufactured and tested to quality standards appropriate to their intended use and regulatory documentation or product specification. GMP applies to both production and quality control.[311]
- »Non-GMO« designation
NEM should not contain any genetically modified ingredients. Therefore, pay attention to the designation »non GMO«. GMO means genetically modified organism.
- TOTOX value
If you eat enough fish, crustaceans and shellfish, algae, etc., it is not necessary to take fish oils. However, if fish oils are to be supplemented, the information on the TOTOX value – oxidation value – must be observed for the respective preparations. The TOTOX value indicates the degree of oxidation of the oil. Fish oils should never smell or taste unpleasant. A good quality fish oil has values around 10. Very good manufacturers are even lower. Values above 26 are considered critical in the EU.
In addition, with dietary supplements, attention must be paid to the content of the active ingredient, the composition and the chemical compounds. The most expensive product is not necessarily the best.
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