What Are the Benefits of Taking Nutrition Supplements?

Eating a balanced diet is important for good health, but certain nutrients are difficult to get from food. Some people need to take dietary supplements to meet their daily requirements for vitamins and minerals.

Dietary supplements come in many forms, including tablets, capsules, gummies, powders, drinks, and energy bars. Talk to your health care professional about which supplements are right for you.

Weight Management

Many people use dietary supplements to help maintain or achieve a healthy weight. But not all supplements are created equal. Dietary supplements are products that are not intended to treat, diagnose or cure diseases. They may include vitamins, minerals, botanicals or live microbials. They are usually taken in pill, powder, gel cap, liquid, bar or gummy form.

While there is some evidence that certain supplements can aid weight management, such as caffeine and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), there are no magic pills that will solve obesity. Instead, a balanced diet and consistent exercise are needed.

If you decide to take a ProHydrolase dietary supplement, make sure it is recommended by your health care professional. Always read the label and follow recommended dosages. Some supplements can have serious side effects when used in high amounts or when taken with certain medications. If you have an adverse reaction or experience any other problems while taking a dietary supplement, report it to the FDA.

Blood Sugar

Many people take dietary supplements, including multivitamins, minerals like calcium and iron, herbs or botanicals, amino acids, and live microbials (commonly called probiotics). Dietary supplements are available in tablets, capsules, gel caps, liquids, powders, gummies, bars, and drinks. The most common dietary supplements are vitamins D and B12, calcium and magnesium, zinc, folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils, and a combination of lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin C to slow vision loss in older adults (called the AREDS formula).

Some studies suggest that some nutritional supplements may help reduce blood sugar levels in people with prediabetes and diabetes. However, more research is needed.

Talk to your health care professional about which dietary supplements are right for you. It's important to keep a record of all dietary supplements and medications you take. If you have a bad reaction to a supplement, let your health care professional know. They can report this information to the FDA.

Immune System

Getting adequate intakes of certain vitamins and minerals supports immune function. Vitamins A, C, E, and D; zinc; and selenium are important for immune health and are essential for proper cellular function [1]. Low intake or status of these micronutrients might negatively impact immune response to infection, for example, vitamin E deficiency affects phagocytic capacity in neutrophils and reduces thymus and spleen functions, while folate and iron deficiencies decrease B-lymphocyte and T lymphocyte functions and increase susceptibility to infections.

The immune system defends the body from disease-causing pathogens through innate and adaptive responses. The innate response includes physical barriers (e.g., skin and intestinal epithelium) and leukocytes (white blood cells), such as neutrophils and natural killer cells, that attempt to identify and destroy pathogens. The adaptive response involves B lymphocytes that secrete antibodies and T lymphocytes that recognize pathogens and stimulate an immunological memory that can prevent or lessen the severity of future pathogen exposures.

Mental Health

A healthy diet includes plenty of vitamins and nutrients that may be helpful in reducing mental health problems. Depression is often linked to a deficiency of Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid, both of which are found in supplements. These vitamins are needed to help make healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen to the brain and other tissues. Folic Acid can also boost depression relief when taken in combination with antidepressants. Vitamins B6, B5, and B3 (niacin) are also important for mental health.

Nutraceutical products with methods of action that address the biological pathways that influence many psychiatric disorders have shown early promise. For example, N-acetyl cysteine has been shown to reduce the severity of psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and depression. Further studies are needed to determine whether these and other micronutrient combinations can be effective in treating a range of psychiatric conditions. Nutraceutical research in this area remains in its early stages but is painting a promising picture for future mental health support.