National Consumers League

A consumer guide to dietary supplements

Dietary supplements, including vitamins, minerals, herbs and other botanicals, and amino acids, are used by a growing number of people in the United States. They're available at drug stores, specialty stores, even gas stations! Some of these products have a long history as traditional remedies, especially many herbal and botanical products, but others, such as amino acids and enzymes are fairly new to the marketplace.

Dietary supplements have gained mainstream popularity and are sold in major grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, and specialty shops, as well as through direct sales representatives, catalogs, and on the Internet.

NCL's brochure, A Consumer Guide to Dietary Supplements, is intended to give you a better understanding of what dietary supplements are, the claims manufacturers can make about the products, and the information listed on the product labels. It also includes a glossary of commonly used terms, a list of questions to ask yourself and your health professional, and a resource section for additional information.