Frequently asked questions
Are Health Supplements For You?
The past two decades has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people wanting to take responsibility for their own health, and greater interest in the role played by diet in maintaining good health. It has also seen an increase in the number of health supplements available in the UK as well as a growing awareness of the benefits of health supplements for many people.
However the increase in products now widely available, as well as the publication of information on health supplements that is often conflicting, has inevitably resulted in some confusion amongst consumers.
The Health Supplements Information Service was set up in 1999 to provide up-to-date information about vitamins, minerals and food supplements and this information has been produced to answer some of the most common questions asked about these products.
It is clear that many of us can benefit from supplements at certain times in our lives and I hope that after reading this booklet you will be able to make more confident decisions about your own nutritional requirements.
Question |
Does everybody get enough nutrients from their diet? If I take supplements, do I really need to bother about what I eat? Are supplements only for body builders and athletes? Are most supplements taken by young people or pregnant women? How long do you need to take supplements for? Are they a quick fix? Do you have to take supplements with food? Is it OK to take various different supplements at the same time? Can you easily overdose on supplements? How much of a supplement is safe to take? Can some supplements stop medicines from working? Can too much vitamin C be harmful? Does Vitamin B6 cause nerve damage? Evidence submitted to a House of Commons Select Committee has cast doubt on the reliability of the basis for the Government's initial decision, which was partly based on one study which has subsequently been deemed to be flawed and on studies in animals using high doses of vitamin B6. Since the initial Government’s advice was issued, the UK Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals* determined a safe upper level for daily consumption over a lifetime to be the equivalent of 10mg per day for a 60kg adult (i.e. 0.17mg per kilo of bodyweight, per day). Given that the EU RDA for Vitamin B6 is 2mg, taking this amount per day on a long term basis should not be cause for any concern. * Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals (2003). Safe Upper Levels for Vitamins and Minerals. Are dietary supplements unnecessary and a waste of money? Is the “supplements” industry is worth a huge amount of money? |
