The key to understanding the roles and needs for different dietary supplements is hidden in the name itself. “Supplements” are only meant to “supplement” your food. They are supposed to act as additives to what you eat or drink. They should always be considered a ‘secondary” source of nutrition and are not the actual substitutes to the real food.  Today, mass media and internet continuously bombard us with modern novelties in the form of various vitamins, minerals, herbal, mass building and weight loss supplements.
What are dietary supplements?
Dietary supplements are preparations made to supplement your regular diet with various combination of herbs (e.g. Ginseng), minerals (e.g. calcium), vitamins (e.g. Vitamin B complex, D, E and C), enzymes, proteins (amino acids), hormones (estrogen) and other substances.
Different dietary supplements come in different forms e.g.  in liquid, capsule, powder and pill form.
How would you know if you need a supplement? There are several reasons nutritional / food supplements are used e.g. to enhance nutrition, as an add-on therapy to the medical treatment of a disease / ailment.
Your doctor, nutritionist or any health professional will be the best person to advise you about supplementing your diet with vitamins or minerals. Though many people get the proper supply of vitamins and minerals through their regular daily diets, some need additional sources to get a sufficient supply of nutrients.

Here are some reasons that you may want to consider taking dietary supplements:

1- Imbalanced diet: If you do not eat a well balanced diet or if your daily food consumption is less than 1200 calories, you may need to take nutritional supplements to adjust to your dietary demands.
2- Menopause: Women lose estrogen after menopause, which results in bone loss. As vitamin D and calcium are essential for health and stronger bones, doctors recommend calcium and vitamin D supplement for most menopausal women.
3- Pregnancy: If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, you should consult your doctor to know if you need supplements. However, almost all doctors do prescribe certain supplements e.g. iron, Vitamin B complex and folic acid to ensure well being of both mother and the fetus.
4- Diseased condition: There are certain ailments in which your doctor may suggest that you take some supplements. For example, if you want to lose weight or if you are obese, you might need a weight loss supplement for quick results.  Supplements are also taken for health conditions, such as arthritis (joint disease) osteoporosis (bone disease), colds and the fever or as an immune booster in certain chronic immunocompromised conditions e.g. AIDS, Cancer, and Hepatitis B/C.
5-Body building / Fitness: These are some of the commonest reasons to take dietary supplements. Body builders usually take amino acids or protein supplements to gain leaner muscles quickly and significantly. Likewise, weight loss supplements are frequently used by the obese or overweight people to get rid of the extra pounds efficiently.
Conclusion
The good news is, if you stick to a healthy, well balanced diet and do your exercise regularly, then you may not need to take any supplement at all.
However, unfortunately, dietary supplements are usually self-prescribed, which can result in serious side effects. Remember, it should be your doctor’s decision to choose whether you need any supplement or not. If you think you need one, it’s best to talk with your doctor / nutritionist before taking any supplement.

  Dr. Ikram Abidi
M.B.B.S (Dow), RMP, CHSA, PGD