DFA Control of Dietary Supplements - Essay Example

DFA Control of Dietary Supplements: A Research Proposal Submitted by: Submitted by: In Partial Fulfillment ofthe Requirements in [Name of Subject] Date Submitted Introduction Do you want to increase your brain power? Are you interested in having large muscles or a 20/20 eyesight? Search no more for the answers for dietary supplements are here. No need to go to the drug store. Just take a 10 minute drive by the grocery store and you can get everything you need ranging from vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids and hormones. Indeed, different supplements are readily available from the market shelf in attractive labels and packaging that promises several health benefits for the unsuspecting consumer. The problem, however, is that the science of supplements is a quagmire of unfounded claims compounded by insufficient oversight from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dietary supplements are defined under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) as products that contain the one or a combination of the following dietary ingredients: vitamins, minerals, herbs and other botanicals, amino acids, hormones, concentrate or metabolites. Supplements usually come in the form of pill, tablet, liquid form or capsule with some being administered intravenously. They differ from pharmaceutical drugs for most of them have unproven therapeutic benefits and is considered more like a food product with the exception that they bear a ‘dietary supplement’ label. With the influx of dietary supplements in the marketplace, claims of medical benefits abound with little scientific proof. The problem is that human society have become so conscious with their health but so lazy to maintain it by exercise and proper food intake that dietary supplements have become so popular and so much in demand. In the face of this dilemma, there is only one possible resolution: for the FDA to strictly monitor and control the production and entry to market of dietary supplements. This paper aims to underscore this choice of action through an analysis of facts and events. A preliminary analysis to serve as a platform for a full scale research is presented in the following passages. Hazards of Dietary Supplements Vitamins and minerals have long been recognized by medical science to have beneficial medical effects. For example, Vitamin C more commonly known as ascorbic acid, have been shown to stimulate the production and function of white blood cells thereby boosting the body’s immunity. It has also been found to prevent the formation of carcinogenic compounds such as nitrosamines. Vitamin A, a pale yellow primary alcohol, improves eyesight by aiding in the formation of mucous membranes and tear glands. Almost all vitamins have some beneficial effects. All of them, aside from the human body-produced Vitamin D, come from external sources (Somer, 2006). Nonetheless, the oft-cited phrase, ‘Anything taken in excess is sure to have ill effects’, also applies to dietary supplements. A study conducted by XX found that people who were consuming >1000 mg of Vitamin C were 41% more probable to develop kidney stones than those who were on Read More