Dietary Supplements Foods Make People Taking Vitamins Drug

In the United States, the "Food and Drug Administration" (FDA) is the "agency" (governmental organization) responsible for "regulating" (making rules and laws about) foods and drugs. The agency tries to make sure that the foods and drugs that are being sold are safe for Americans.

The FDA regulates dietary supplements as foods "rather than" (instead of) drugs. Many people believe that this is wrong and should be changed. "Pharmaceutical" (related to making medicines) companies have to "prove" (show that something is true) that their drugs are safe. However, since dietary supplements are not considered to be drugs, the companies that make dietary supplements don't have to meet this requirement. The FDA can act only if a dietary supplement has been shown to be "harmful" (causing pain, sickness, or death).

There are some "restrictions" (limitations) on dietary supplements. For example, the "packaging" (the boxes, bottles, and text that are used around the product) cannot make "claims" (statements that something is true) about the "health benefits" (the ways that something is good for one's health) of dietary supplements without including the following text: "These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." It is "illegal" (against the law) to market a dietary supplement as a "cure" (solution to a medical problem) for a disease.

Many doctors and researchers are worried that some dietary supplements hurt the people who take them. For example, many "herbal teas" (teas made from leaves other than tea leaves) have been shown to "interfere" (change a situation) with the "effectiveness" (ability to do something well) of other medications. These people are "lobbying" (asking the government to do something) for better regulation of dietary supplements.