Dietary Supplements, Nutraceuticals, and Natural Products

Dietary supplements, including herbal products, represent commonly used alternative and complementary healthcare products. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) defines a dietary supplement as a product intended to supplement the diet that contains a vitamin, mineral, amino acid, herb, or other botanical product intended for ingestion. These supplements are required to contain specific labeling stating: “This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease”; however, many people use these products believing that they will treat, cure, or prevent diseases. The properties of several of these compounds are discussed in relation to their putative mechanism(s) of action, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, and potential adverse effects. Specific compounds discussed include those used for their antioxidant, antiinflammatory, stimulant, sedative, hormonal and other putative actions.