Dietary Guidelines for Americans
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Dietary supplement use is downplayed in latest update from HHS and the Department of Agriculture, released at the National Nutrition Summit in D.C. May 30. "Don't depend on supplements to meet your usual nutrient needs," the document advises consumers. Supplements can help "some people...meet specific nutrient needs," including folic acid and iron for pregnant women; vitamins D and B12 for senior citizens; B12 for vegetarians and vegans; and calcium for people who consume few dairy foods, the guidelines note. The "value" of herbal supplements is being studied, the document states, adding "standards for their purity, potency and composition are being developed"