Dietary supplements are intended to add to or supplement the diet and are different from conventional food. Generally, to the extent a product is intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent diseases, it is a drug, even if it is labeled as a dietary supplement.
Supplements are ingested and come in many forms, including tablets, capsules, soft gels, gel caps, powders, bars, gummies, and liquids.
Common supplements include:
Vitamins (such as multivitamins or individual vitamins like vitamin D and biotin).
Minerals (such as calcium, magnesium, and iron).
Botanicals or herbs (such as echinacea and ginger).
Botanical compounds (such as caffeine and curcumin).
Amino acids (such as tryptophan and glutamine).
Live microbials (commonly referred to as “probiotics”).
