Dietary Supplements: What is a "dietary supplement"?

A dietary supplement is any product that contains a “dietary ingredient” intended to add to the diet. These ingredients may be any of the following substances

• a vitamin
• a mineral
• an herb or other botanical
• an amino acid
• a substance such as an enzyme

FDA considers dietary supplements to be foods instead of drugs. Each must be labeled as a dietary supplement and have a “Supplement Facts” label. Doctors may prescribe prenatal vitamin and mineral supplements. When a supplement is ordered by prescription, it is regulated as drugs, not foods.

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