How to Read Food and Dietary Supplement Labels

From 1990–1997, use of nutritional supplements in the United States increased 130% (Eisenberg et al., 1993, 1998). In 1997, $5.1 billion was spent on supplements in the United States (Eisenberg et al., 1998). Nutritional supplementation has become an important component of many diets because people believe they do not get adequate nutrition from food alone (Murray, 1996). Ideally, nutritional needs should be met via whole foods and supplements should be used only when researched and found to have documented protective effects (“Position of the American Dietetic Association [ADA],” 2001).