Types Of Supplements

By Author: mildredddbz
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Sometimes, the diet of a person is not sufficient to provide all the nutrients needed. For this reason, dietary supplements are provided. Dietary supplements, also known as food supplements or nutritional supplements, provide vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids or fibre that is usually not consumed in sufficient quantity in regular diets. Some countries define dietary supplements as food, while in other countries, they are treated as over-the-counter drugs.

Supplements can be categorized into the following main groups:
Essential minerals
Essential vitamins and co-vitamins
Essential fatty acids
Essential amino acids
Phytonutrients
Glyconutrients

Iodine, folic acid, niacin, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, and the B-complex vitamins, fluoride salts, calcium, beta-carotene, compounds of iron, etc. are examples of dietary supplements. Iodine is commonly added to salt and is necessary for proper functioning of the thyroid glands. Folic acid, a form of Vitamin B9, is often added to flour in many developed countries and helps to produce healthy blood cells and prevent ...
... anaemia. Iron supplements are required for maintaining a healthy haemoglobin percentage in the blood and prevent anaemia. Niacin is a form of Vitamin B3 and helps to prevent pellagra. In the USA, niacin has been added to bread since 1938.

Vitamin C helps to prevent scurvy, Vitamin D helps to prevent rickets, while thiacin (Vitamin B1) helps to prevent beriberi. Fluoride salts are often added to toothpastes and help to prevent tooth decay. Calcium is required to maintain strong and healthy bones, nails and teeth. It is frequently added to fruit juices and other beverages. Thus, supplements help to keep an individual healthy. However, supplements should usually be taken only if necessary, because excesses of certain essential nutrients can be harmful for the body.

To read about vitamin b and other information, visit the vitamin e site.