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Step 1
Be especially careful about overdosing on any vitamin or supplement, because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not approve these supplements or establish safe doses. The FDA nly oversees that the manufacturers meet labeling and safety standards. The Administration will warn the public and ban a supplement if they find it harmful.
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Step 2
Read labels carefully, remembering that the accuracy of advertisements and statements on labels is not guaranteed. Statements claiming benefits like "May help to promote sleep" should be followed by this disclaimer: "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness." The word "natural" doesn't automatically mean a product is safe.
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Step 3
Ask your doctor or health professional before supplementing your diet with vitamins or minerals. While most people get an adequate supply of vitamins and minerals through their daily diets, some pregnant and breast feeding women, women of child bearing age, elderly people and people on low-calorie (fewer than 1,200 calories a day) diets may need a multivitamin supplement.
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Step 4
Choose a multivitamin/mineral supplement that has no more than 100 percent of the Daily Value for each vitamin and mineral that it contains. Read the label carefully and take only the recommended dosage or number of pills daily.
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Step 5
Tell your doctor about any supplements you are taking, because certain supplements cause problems when they are combined with prescription medications. If you are scheduled for surgery, your doctor needs to know if you are taking any supplements.
