Dietary supplement – a food product containing vitamins, minerals or other substances that have a nutritional or other physiological effect, the purpose of which is to supplement the deficiency of a specific ingredient in the body.
Dietary supplements are a topic that raises many questions and doubts. Do we really need them? How to distinguish them from medications? And what is worth knowing before using them? In this article, you will find reliable answers, organized knowledge and practical tips. Check it out before you reach for another preparation from the pharmacy shelf.
What are dietary supplements?
If you are wondering what are dietary supplements, the answer is quite simple – these are foods that are intended to supplement the daily diet with specific nutrients. Unlike drugs, they do not have a therapeutic effect, but support the proper functioning of the body. It is worth understanding, what is a dietary supplement, to skillfully select the preparation for your own needs. Before choosing a specific product, it is also worth knowing the stages of the process, which is contract production of dietary supplements, which ensures control over the quality and composition of the preparation.
Dietary supplement - definition in accordance with applicable law
To avoid mistakes and misunderstandings, it is worth knowing what is the difference between a medicine and a supplement, especially in the context of their composition, application and method of registration. From a legal point of view definition of dietary supplement has been clearly defined in EU and national regulations. A dietary supplement is a food product that is a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals or other substances with a physiological effect. It should not be identified with a medicine - these are two completely different types of products. People planning to introduce a product to the market should familiarize themselves with the process of notification of dietary supplements, a mandatory step prior to distribution.
What are dietary supplements? Composition
If you are wondering how to produce a dietary supplement, it is worth starting with developing a formula that complies with applicable standards. The key element of each preparation is high quality raw materials for dietary supplements, which determine its effectiveness and safety. Supplements may contain vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, enzymes or amino acids – it all depends on the purpose of the product. According to the regulations, definition of dietary supplements indicates the obligation to precisely mark the composition, dosage and effects. Knowledge of these requirements is also crucial at the stage packaging of dietary supplements, i.e. preparing them for sale in appropriate portions and packaging.
Supplementation – definition
Many consumers ask, what is supplementation, as this concept often appears in the context of a healthy lifestyle. Supplementation involves supplementing the daily diet with essential nutrients that may be lacking in food. Knowledge definition of supplementation makes it easier to understand the role of these preparations and use them rationally. The form of the product is also important – for example hard capsules enable convenient and precise dosing of ingredients. Depending on the type of active substance and target group, preparations can also be produced by capsule manufacturer softgel, offering easy-to-swallow forms.
When is it worth taking supplements?
The decision to take a supplement should be preceded by an analysis of the body's needs and possible deficiencies. When considering, what are dietary supplements, it is worth remembering that they are not universal - the selection depends on age, gender, lifestyle or health condition. It is also good to know different forms of preparations - for example, those offered by an experienced soft capsule manufacturer are gentler on the digestive system and easier to swallow. They are also becoming increasingly popular production of animal supplements, responding to the needs of owners who care about the diet of their pets.
What is a dietary supplement and why is it important to know its definition?
Knowing this, what is a dietary supplement, is the basis for conscious use of this type of products. Appropriate knowledge allows not only for safe use, but also for the right choice of offer. A well-considered decision requires understanding what the active ingredients are, what they look like dietary supplement registration, and what are the procedures related to its preparation. It is also worth knowing the current information about the cost of producing dietary supplements, which influences the final price of preparations available on the market.
Dietary supplements – legal definition
In accordance with applicable regulations, dietary supplements – legal definition It is recognized in both EU and national regulations. The law clearly defines a supplement as a food intended to supplement a normal diet and to be a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, or other substances with nutritional or physiological effects. Every manufacturer is required to submit a product to the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS) through a notification process before it is released on the market. These legal provisions protect consumers from the introduction of supplements with unknown composition or questionable quality.
Dietary supplement statutory definition
Dietary supplement – statutory definition was included in the Food and Nutrition Safety Act of August 25, 2006 (Journal of Laws of 2006, No. 171, item 1225, as amended). This Act defines a supplement as a food product intended to supplement the diet and containing a concentrated source of specific nutrients, marketed in a form enabling dosage, e.g., capsules, tablets, sachets, or liquids. This statutory definition provides the basis for classifying supplements and distinguishing them from medicines, and also regulates the requirements for the labeling, composition, and safety of these products.
Dietary supplements and responsible use – summary
Awareness of this, what is a dietary supplement and its definition allows for better health care. Making the right choice requires knowledge of the differences between medications and supplements, the registration processes, and the quality of raw materials. This allows supplementation to be an effective support, not a source of risk.
What is a dietary supplement – a comparison of definitions
| Legal source | Content of the definition |
|---|---|
| Directive 2002/46/EC (Article 2a) | "Food supplements" means foodstuffs the purpose of which is to supplement the normal diet and which are concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, alone or in combination, marketed in dose form (...). |
| Food and Nutrition Safety Act (Art. 3 sec. 3 item 39) | Dietary supplement – a food product whose purpose is to supplement a normal diet, being a concentrated source of vitamins or minerals or other substances with a nutritional or other physiological effect, single or combined, placed on the market in a form enabling dosing (...). |
