April 20, 2022 Author : João Almeida Lopes A balanced and complete diet is the basis for getting all the nutrients you need. Despite this, there are situations – for example, lifestyle or illness – in which it is possible or necessary to resort to other sources to get the ingested amounts of certain nutrients . In these cases, food supplements are used, that is, sources with a higher concentration of the nutrients needed for each circumstance. Food supplements can be: Functional foods with additional nutrients or components outside their typical nutritional composition, such as, for example, foods fortified with minerals and vitamins or foods enriched with nutrients; Formulated foods (eg drinks or bars) and replenishing sports supplements (eg whey protein) that provide energy and nutrients in a more convenient format; Formulations (like tablets, drops and others) containing isolated nutrients and other components of plant-based foods or products supplied in isolated or concentrated forms (eg creatine monohydrate, caffeine, beta-alanine) Products with different formulations containing various ingredients and aimed at specific goals (eg formulas marketed as 'pre-workout'). Quality and safety of food supplements The manufacture and marketing of food supplements is regulated to ensure the safe and informed use of products with an adequate quality. The labeling of food supplements has its own rules. It is similar to food, but must include additional information, for example about: Nutrients characteristic of the product; Recommended daily intake, which should not be exceeded. Prophylactic, treatment or curing properties cannot be claimed for food supplements. Reference to 'natural', 'biological', 'safe' or other terms is not synonymous with safety. Safety is safeguarded by complying with the standards of good manufacturing and marketing practices. Thus, when choosing a food supplement, in addition to being suitable for individual goals and circumstances, it is important to verify that : The labeling information is adequate; There is certification of good manufacturing and safety practices (eg from SGS, EFSA or FDA) and absence of prohibited substances. Meet the nutrition clinical team from Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
