dietary supplements

In northern climes, the winter sun is too weak for people to generate vitamin D on their own, and it can be hard to get enough in food.

With Winter Here, Many Kids Could Use Vitamin D Supplements

11:03am December 21, 2015

by Katherine Hobson

You can get vitamin D through diet alone, but it may not be easy. A significant percentage of young kids are falling short. Blame the weak sun of winter, and sunscreen in summer.

Justice Department Announces Criminal Charges Against Dietary Supplement Firms

5:54pm November 17, 2015

by Laura Wagner

More than 100 companies are accused of selling products that contain unlisted ingredients or make health claims without adequate scientific evidence.

Dietary Supplements Send Thousands To ERs Yearly

6:42pm October 14, 2015

by Rob Stein

More than 23,000 Americans end up in emergency rooms each year after taking dietary supplements, an analysis shows. Most cases are linked to weight-loss products or energy-boosting supplements.

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Turning to over-the-counter supplements to get ripped can contribute to physical and psychological issues.

Men Looking To Get Ripped Are At Risk Of Abusing Legal Supplements

3:38pm August 07, 2015

by Ina Yang

We're not talking steroids here; we're talking about the stuff you can buy at the supermarket. They're not dangerous in themselves. But overuse can signal emotional or physical problems.

DNA tests were run on supplements claiming to contain ginko bilboa, St. John's wort, ginseng and echinacea.

Health & Safety

New York State Clamps Down On Herbal Supplements

7:05pm February 03, 2015

by Jackie Northam

The state attorney general asked four major retailers to pull pills because they don't contain what they claim. Tests show supplements are often filled with cheap ingredients, including houseplants.

Ideally, we'd all eat super healthful diets. But that's not the world we live in, and multivitamins may help bridge the nutritional gaps.

Health & Safety

Multivitamins: The Case For Taking One A Day

10:18pm February 02, 2015

by Allison Aubrey

Multivitamins have gotten a bad rap. But studies suggest these dietary supplements may help plug the nutrition gaps resulting from our less-than-ideal eating habits.

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People can make vitamin D when exposed to sunshine. But many people in North America never get enough sun to do that.

Vitamin D Tests Aren't Needed For Everyone, Federal Panel Says

2:55pm November 25, 2014

by Nancy Shute

There's not enough evidence that screening the general public for vitamin D deficiency helps reduce the risk of disease, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says.

Wouldn't it be great if this stuff really did cause quick painless weight loss?

How To Sell Bogus Health Cures In 5 Easy Steps

12:33pm October 24, 2014

by Nancy Shute

It turns out that green coffee extract isn't a "miracle pill that can burn fat fast," even though Dr. Oz said so. But there are plenty more "miracle" cures out there. Here's how to sell your own.

Even versions of Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen labeled "genuine" and "anti-counterfeit" have been found to contain the drug sibutramine, which was supposed to come off the U.S. market in 2010 for safety reasons.

Banned Drugs Still Turning Up In Weight-Loss Supplements

9:04am October 23, 2014

by Allison Aubrey

Just because the Food and Drug Administration recalls a supplement because it contains dangerous substances doesn't mean the product disappears from the market.

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Despite public health campaigns urging women in the U.S. to take folic acid, many are still not taking the supplements when they become pregnant.

Health & Safety

Folic Acid For Pregnant Mothers Cuts Kids' Autism Risk

1:19pm February 25, 2013

by Jon Hamilton

A study of more than 85,000 women in Norway found that those who started taking a folic acid supplement four weeks before getting pregnant were about 40 percent less likely to have a child who developed the disorder. Mothers had to continue taking the supplement during the first eight weeks of pregnancy to get the full benefit.

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