Pursuant to the Act of August 25, 2006 on food and nutrition safety, a dietary supplement is a food that is a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals or other substances having a nutritional or other physiological effect, single or complex. Dietary supplements, in accordance with the Act, should be placed on the market in a form enabling dosing. E.g. in the form:
- capsules, tablets, dragees,
- sachets with powder,
- ampoules with liquid,
- dropper bottles,
- in the form of liquids and powders intended for consumption in small, measured unit quantities,
with the exception of products having medicinal product properties within the meaning of legal provisions pharmaceutical. A dietary supplement is therefore a food whose purpose is to supplement the daily diet. It is intended for healthy people whose diet does not provide vitamins, minerals or other ingredients with a nutritional effect in appropriate amounts. Unlike a dietary supplement, a medicinal product is a substance or mixture used to prevent or treat human diseases. Medicines contain active substances in appropriate doses that have pharmacological or therapeutic effects, while dietary supplements include vitamins, minerals and plant ingredients that have a nutritional or other physiological effect.
Definition of supplement
Dietary supplement and medicine
The basic difference between a dietary supplement and a medicinal product is the purpose of the product, the purpose of its use and the effect it has. This also results in a difference in legal qualification. A dietary supplement is a food product and is subject to food law, while medicinal products are regulated by pharmaceutical law. The differences between a dietary supplement and a drug are presented in the graphic below.
Composition of dietary supplements
There are many substances that are allowed for use in food production, including: vitamins, minerals, amino acids and plant substances. For most of these substances, both minimum and maximum intake limits have been established. Maximum ingredient limits are set taking into account
- upper safe levels of vitamins and minerals established by scientific risk assessment based on generally accepted scientific data and taking into account, as appropriate, the varying sensitivities of different consumer groups; and
- intake of vitamins and minerals supplied through consumption from other sources.
Excessive consumption of some of these substances may cause adverse health effects, so when preparing the composition of a dietary supplement, it is necessary to follow the guidelines established by law or seek the help of a specialist in this field.
Labeling of dietary supplements
Pursuant to the Regulation of the Minister of Health of October 9, 2007 on the composition and labeling of dietary supplements, it was established that the mandatory information on the packaging of dietary supplements is:
- The term "dietary supplement"
- The name of the category of nutrients or substances characterizing the product or an indication of their properties
- Portion of the product recommended for consumption during the day,
- Warning about not exceeding the recommended daily dose,
- Statement that dietary supplements cannot be used as a substitute for a varied diet,
- Stating that dietary supplements should be stored out of the reach of small children
Information on the packaging of a dietary supplement should be placed visibly, clearly, legibly and indelibly. So that the product packaging does not raise any doubts about the person introducing the dietary supplement market should familiarize themselves with the criteria regarding the readability of content on the packaging, which are included in the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council no. 1169/2011 of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers. The labeling of a dietary supplement should be clear and must not mislead the consumer. It is prohibited to attribute disease-preventing or curing properties to dietary supplements, or to attribute to a food an action that it does not produce. Improper labeling of dietary supplements and their inappropriate advertising may mislead consumers and be subject to penalties from regulatory authorities. Bibliography:
- Act of August 25, 2006 on food and nutrition safety
- Regulation of the Minister of Health of October 9, 2007 on the composition and labeling of dietary supplements
- Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council no. 1169/2011 of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers.
- Małgorzata Grembecka "Dietary supplements - a panacea for all ailments?"
- Grażyna Krasnowska, Tadeusz Sikora "Dietary supplements and consumer safety"
- Act of September 6, 2001 Pharmaceutical law
- Katarzyna Stoś "Dietary supplements or medicines"
Text author: 
Aleksandra Kowalska Project manager in IOC Ltd. Specialist in dietary supplements, their composition, labeling and registration Cosmetic project manager Graduate of the Faculty of Chemistry of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
