Dietary Supplements: Current Issues

The use of dietary supplements is often promoted as a solution to a number of nutrition problems, including general dietary patterns and nutrient intakes, malnutrition in the elderly, the nutritional needs in pregnant women, poor nutrient intakes in low-income children, the iron needs of infants after 6 months, and the prevention of diseases. Although there are situations where the use of vitamin and mineral supplements can improve the health of certain individuals, the consumption of conventional food continues to be the preferred method to improve nutritional and health status. This important book examines many of the issues that dietary supplements face today. One such controversial issue is whether the use of dietary supplements should be included in food-stamp plans. Also questioned is the regulation of some of the more controversial dietary supplements such as ephedra, and if they should be available as over-the-counter or rather be made prescription-necessary medications.