Nutritional supplements, their role in the body and what is their importance?

Dietary supplements are vitamins, minerals, herbs, or many other products, and come in many different forms, including pills, capsules, powders, and drinks.

You can follow the news and announcements of celebrities and all their exclusive content that you can only find through the Special application, which is a social networking application with special and unique features, as it includes a podcast that provides many unique features, as you can launch a podcast with your friends or listen to others, and it also provides information about the various possessions of celebrities .

Certain supplements can play an important role in health. Calcium and vitamin D are important for maintaining strong bones, and pregnant women are advised to take folic acid to prevent certain birth defects in their children.

Dietary supplements are intended to supplement or complement the diet in the event of a deficiency. They differ from traditional foods. The supplements the body needs depend on each person's condition and the nutrients they lack, as determined by the doctor.

Common nutritional supplements include: Vitamins: such as multivitamins or single vitamins like vitamin D and biotin. Minerals: such as calcium, magnesium, and iron. Plants or herbs: such as ginger. Plant compounds: such as caffeine and curcumin. Amino acids: such as tryptophan and glutamine. Live microbes are commonly referred to as "probiotics."

What are the best nutritional supplements? Each person has their own needs. If they have a deficiency in a certain substance, such as vitamin D, the best nutritional supplement for them is the one that compensates for this deficiency.

Dietary supplements can help you improve or maintain your overall health, and supplements can also help you meet your daily requirements for essential nutrients.

For example, calcium and vitamin D can help build strong bones, and fiber can help maintain bowel regularity. While the benefits of some supplements are scientifically proven, others need further study.

Also, nutritional supplements should not replace the variety of foods that are important for a healthy diet.

He stated that the German Health Center has warned that excessive intake of vitamin C increases the risk of kidney stones, especially in people with high blood pressure, diabetes, or those who do not drink enough fluids.

The German Center explains this by saying that the body does not get rid of excess vitamin C through urine, but rather converts it into oxalic acid, which is what most kidney stones are made of.

Using supplements wisely: Studies have found that some supplements may have some benefits, such as melatonin for jet lag, while others may have little or no benefit, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health in the United States.

Most research shows that taking multivitamins does not lead to longer life, slow cognitive decline, or reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, or diabetes.

Dietary supplements may interact with your medications or pose risks if you have certain medical conditions or are having surgery.

Many nutritional supplements have not been tested on pregnant or breastfeeding women or children.

Some products marketed as dietary supplements—which are primarily promoted for weight loss, sexual enhancement, and bodybuilding—may contain prescription drugs that are not permitted in dietary supplements or other ingredients not listed on the label, and some of these ingredients may be unsafe.

Some nutritional supplements may be beneficial to your health, while others have not been proven effective, and studies on some supplements have not supported the claims made about them.

Strong evidence is often lacking to support claims made about nutritional supplements. For example, a 2022 review identified 27 ingredients frequently included in nutritional supplements with claims related to immune function, such as "supports a healthy immune system" or "strengthens natural immunity."

The reviewers searched the scientific literature for rigorous studies on the effectiveness of each ingredient in people and found evidence of this type for only eight of them. Some studies suggested potential benefits, but the evidence wasn't strong enough to allow for definitive conclusions. More research is needed so consumers know if an immune-boosting supplement can help protect them from disease.

What is stated on the label may not be what is in the product. For example, the FDA has found prescription drugs—including anticoagulants such as warfarin and anticonvulsants such as phenytoin, among others—in products sold as dietary supplements.

A 2012 government study of 127 dietary supplements marketed for weight loss or immune system support found that 20% made illegal claims.

Dietary supplements lead to an estimated 23,000 emergency room visits each year in the United States, according to a 2015 study. Many of these patients are young adults with heart problems caused by weight loss supplements or energy products, and older adults with swallowing problems from taking large vitamin pills.

Although still rare, more cases of acute (sudden) liver damage are being reported in people taking supplements in the United States and elsewhere. Liver injury can be severe, may require an emergency liver transplant, and can sometimes be fatal.

Many dietary supplements (and some prescription medications) come from natural sources, but “natural” doesn’t always mean “safe.” For example, the kava plant is a member of the pepper family, but taking kava supplements can cause liver disease.