Dietary supplements are popular consumer products. Most consumers believe these are safe, regardless of the dose. Recently clinical trials have found that doses of folate, beta-carotene and vitamin E common in supplements may actually increase the risk of certain cancers among some groups of people. In addition, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines committee has recommended that consumers not rely on daily multivitamin/mineral supplements because supplements of many vitamins have proved ineffective in reducing the risk of chronic disease. Instead, consumers are urged to obtain needed nutrients from foods.
This series of fact sheets on Supplements is designed to offer two levels of information
- Facts about vitamins and Supplements: Vitamin X is a short brochure with limited information aimed at consumers.
- Supplement Facts: Vitamin X is a longer summary of current information about the supplement source, recommended levels and upper limits of intake, effects of deficiency and excess of intake and current views on the supplement's impact on reducing the risk of chronic disease. This is aimed at professionals and those with interest in more detailed information.
Fact sheets available
- Facts about Vitamins and Supplements: Vitamin D
- Supplement Facts: Vitamin D
- Facts about Vitamins and Supplements: Vitamin A
- Supplement Facts: Vitamin A
- Facts about Vitamins and Supplements: Vitamin E
- Supplement Facts: Vitamin E
