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Skip to Article Content- Vitamins and Supplements Lifestyle Guide
- Getting the Most From Supplements Your guide to the benefits of taking vitamins and supplements.
- Vitamins and Supplements Glossary What does that vitamin label mean? A vitamin and supplement glossary of terms.
- How Many Supplements Should I Take? How many supplements should you take each day? Get answers and facts here.
- Your Guide to Protein Powders Got protein? What you should know about whey and other protein powders.
- Understanding Prenatal Vitamins Get the basics on prenatal vitamins and your baby's health.
- Iron Supplements Explained Who needs iron supplements? Get the facts on how iron works.
- Vitamins that Fight Inflammation Facts on which vitamins and supplements may help decrease inflammation.
- Nutritious & Delicious Foods Find out how these tasty and nutritious foods can benefit you.
- How to Use Supplements Wisely A handy guide to taking supplements wisely.
- Supplements to Boost Your Mood Depressed? Get the facts to see if supplements can help improve your mood.
- Natural Sleep Supplements If you're in search of a good night's sleep, try these natural sleep aids.
- Energy-Enhancing Supplements Low on energy and tired all the time? Find vitamin fixes here.
- Libido-Boosting Supplements Can dietary supplements help put the spark back in your sex life?
- Chronic Pain Supplements Don't let chronic pain keep you grounded. Find out which supplements ease pain.
- Supplements for Skin & Beauty Which vitamins help keep you looking your best? Get the facts here.
- Arthritis & Joint Pain Supplements Find out which supplements can help ease joint pain.
- Memory-Boosting Supplements Fortify your memory naturally with the right vitamins.
- Allergy Vitamins & Supplements Vitamins and supplements to help ease bothersome allergy symptoms.
- Supplements for People With Cancer If you have cancer, you may have special nutrition needs. Vitamins may help.
- Supplements for Cold and Flu Can vitamins help you stay healthy during flu season?
- Evaluating Supplements What should you know before taking vitamins and supplements?
- Heart Health Supplements Find out which supplements can help lower cholesterol.
- Weight Loss Supplements Stuck in a diet rut? Find out if supplements can boost your weight loss efforts.
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FAQs About Dietary Supplements
What is a 'proprietary blend?'
A "proprietary blend" is a combination of ingredients used exclusively by one supplement manufacturer. No other company produces the exact same combination of ingredients, and, in most cases, it is difficult to know from the label the exact amounts of each of the ingredients in that blend.
What is the difference between RDA and DV?
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is the amount of a certain nutrient you should get each day based on your age, gender, and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding. On a supplement label, you're more likely to see the acronym DV, which stands for Daily Value. This represents how much of a nutrient the supplement provides in regards to a total daily diet. For example, if a calcium supplement is labeled "50% DV," it contains 500 mg of calcium per serving, because the DV for calcium is 1,000 mg per day. Sometimes the DV contained in a supplement will be higher than the RDA for certain people. In many cases, there is no DV for a supplement, so the label will reflect that. Check with your doctor to make sure your supplement doesn't contain too much of any nutrient.
What should I do if I have a side effect from a supplement?
Report any side effects to your doctor, and to the FDA, as soon as possible. You can reach the FDA at (800) FDA-1088, or go to www.fda.gov/medwatch to report a problem.