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| Dietary Supplements |  Remember one very important thing about supplements, when something is “natural”, it does not mean it is safe or can be taken without risk. Supplements may interplay with prescription medications and lead to serious problems. They can have side effects. If they are taken in large amounts or mixed with other over-the-counter products, they may also cause problems.
Do not make use of any supplement before discussing it with your doctor. There are people who should use extra caution or completely avoid taking supplements include. They are:
• Women who are pregnant or nursing
• Women taking birth control pills
• People with kidney, liver or heart problems or certain other medical conditions
• People with HIV infection
• People taking prescription or over-the-counter medications
• Children
• People who have had organ transplants
Supplements are controlled by the Food and Drug Administration as food products rather than drugs. Therefore they do not have to meet the same standards as prescription and over-the-counter medications for proof of safety, efficacy, or dosage.
Published investigations of supplements have found that some herbal supplements may include different amounts of the active ingredients than their labels state. They may also include injurious additives or contamination. Supplement labels might belong to the product’s quality being “standardized,” “certified,” or “verified.” There is no legal definition for these terms so they may not guarantee quality.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids occur naturally throughout the body. They are currently being investigating to determine their efficiency in treating depression and bipolar disorder. These oils, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) occur in shellfish, sardines, albacore tuna, salmon, canola oil, soybeans, flaxseed, walnuts, and wheat germ. They are also available in pill form. Omega-3 fatty acids are used to improve heart health, immune function and a variety of other conditions. In some clinical trials of people with depression or bipolar disorder, many people improved on high doses of Omega-3 oils. It is reported that people taking Omega-3 have mild stomach side effects.
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