What Are Nutritional Supplements?
A nutritional supplement is a preparation intended to supply nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fatty acids or amino acids, that are missing or are not consumed in sufficient quantity in a person's diet. Some countries define dietary supplements as foods, while in others they are defined as drugs.
Supplements containing vitamins or dietary minerals are recognized by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the United Nations' highest authority on food standards, as a category of food.
Supplementation is no longer a luxury. In fact, Harvard Medical School scientists have recommended that all adults take daily vitamin supplements.? This conclusion was based on two factors--the realization that Americans do not receive enough vitamins from their diet alone, and the result of nearly 40 years of clinical research indicating that vitamin supplementation plays a significant role in long-term good health.
Informational note: The data presented on our health and nutrition website is for educational purposes only. Though we stive to be accurate in all of the information we present, it should not be taken as medical advice. NSC always recommends consulting your physician before beginning or modifying any diet or exercise program.
