Health Supplements
What To Do Before Starting To Take A Supplement
« Previous3/3
Before starting to take a supplement, it is advisable to take the following steps:
- Check with your doctor to find out his or her opinion about:
- The usefulness of the supplement
- Whether it negatively impacts your physical condition or the drugs you are taking.
- Check to see if the information that comes with the supplement has been tested in a scientific, double-blind placebo control trial. (A placebo looks like the acutal pill, but has no active ingredients in it). A double-blind placebo control trial means:
- That part of the test group took a placebo (generally a sugar pill) instead of the actual supplement, while the other group took the supplement.
- Neither the participating patients nor the doctors know who is receiving the supplement and who is receiving the placebo.
- The results of the two different groups are tested over time in a controlled situation.
- Look at evidence based information about supplements you are considering. For instance, see:
- "About Herbs, Botanicals and Other Products" at www.mskcc.org/aboutherbs
- The Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health's information sheets and publications: http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov , Tel.: 301.435.2920
- U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Information Center provides information at www.nal.usda.gov/fnic , Tel.: 301.504.5719. Click on "Dietary Supplements".
- The information on the Memorial Sloan Kettering websirte about herbs, botanicals and vitamins: www.mskcc.org/aboutherbs
- Also see The Internet: Respected Comprehensive Sites.
Get Your Personal Guide
Please share how this information is useful to you. 0 Comments
Post a Comment Have something to add to this topic? Contact Us.