5 Tips for Buying Dietary Supplements Menu Verywell Fit Nutrition Weight Management Nutrition Facts Nutrition Basics Diets Meal Plans Meal Delivery Services View All News Fitness and Nutrition What to Buy How We Test Products Fitness Gear Nutrition Products Tools Recipe Nutrition Calculator Weight Loss Calorie Goal BMI Calculator Body Fat Percentage Calculator Calories Burned by Activity Daily Calories Burned Pace Calculator About Us Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Search Nutrition Basics 5 Tips for Buying Dietary Supplements By Shereen Lehman, MS Shereen Lehman, MS Shereen Lehman, MS, is a healthcare journalist and fact checker. She has co-authored two books for the popular Dummies Series (as Shereen Jegtvig). Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 30, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and nutrition and exercise healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Mia Syn, MS, RDN Medically reviewed by Mia Syn, MS, RDN Mia Syn, MS, RDN is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a master of science in human nutrition. She is also the host of Good Food Friday on ABC News 4. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Yagi Studio / Getty Images Dietary supplements are everywhere—you'll find them at the grocery store, drug store, convenience store, and the big box stores. And there're lots of them. Multivitamins, single nutrients, fiber, minerals, fatty acids, antioxidants, extracts, weight loss aids—even energy drinks and protein powders are classified as dietary supplements. So how do you know which ones to buy? It's not easy. Although supplements are regulated to some point by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it's up to the supplement manufacturers to supply safe products. The FDA mostly steps in after a problem's been identified. Be a smart shopper. Here are our top five tips for choosing dietary supplements. 1 Know Why or If You Need Them Dietary supplements are best used to ensure you're getting an adequate intake of specific nutrients—some multiple vitamins that will do the job nicely. But there are times when specific supplements are used to help treat specific health issues, like taking calcium and vitamin D for osteoporosis or iron for anemia. In cases like this, your health care provider has probably already explained how much you should take and maybe offered suggests about particular brands. If you think you might have health reasons to take specific supplements, you need to speak with your health care provider. Don't diagnose yourself. And finally, if your goal for taking supplements is to prevent illness, then you might want to reconsider your plan—research studies don't usually find supplements to be helpful in this way. They probably don't hurt either, but the foods you eat (or don't eat) is likely to have a bigger impact on your health risks. Overuse and Interactions Can Undermine Health Benefits of Supplements 2 Brush Up on Your Label Reading Skills Labels are designed to catch your eye so you'll buy the product. And although supplement manufacturers have to follow specific rules about health claims, you might find yourself looking at a product that says it can do more than it can. Don't believe it—when it comes to supplements and health claims, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. At best you'll waste your money, and at worst you'll end up with something dangerous. Look past the claims on the front of the label and review the supplement facts chart and ingredients—that will give you an idea of what's in the bottle and how much to take. You can also find the name and contact information for the manufacturer. Read about whether it's safe to take expired vitamins. 3 Avoid Mega Doses and Extra Ingredients So let's say you want to buy a bottle of vitamin C. You go to the store, and you see one bottle of vitamin C; another bottle of vitamin C with immune-supporting herbs; and a bottle of vitamin C with this, that, and some other thing. Are the additional things helpful? Those extra ingredients may seem like a good idea, but the more ingredients, the higher the likelihood of having some unwanted side effect. Start with just the vitamin or mineral you're interested in taking. Don't buy more than you need. Follow the dosage instructions on the label. Although dietary supplements are generally safe, taking too much can be bad for you. 4 Choose a Respected Brand You know there are some brands of vitamins you've seen for years—they've been around for a long time, so they probably offer a decent product. If you're shopping at a drug store or a health food store, you should be able to ask someone for advice. But if you're going to the grocery store or the big box store, you're on your own. In that case, look for products that have been certified by ConsumerLabs, The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, or NSF International. These organizations don't guarantee a product is safe or effective, but they indicate that it's undergone testing for quality. 5 Evaluate the Site When Buying Online Searching the web for supplements will turn up all kinds of websites, from official supplement company sites to cut-rate cheapo sites, to websites that sell products that are worthless or worse. Don't fall for products that promise cures for diseases, extreme weight loss, or impressive sexual prowess. Look for sites that offer current, sound information (with references) and include easy access to contact information. Finally, speak to your health care provider before you take any supplements if: You're pregnant or breastfeedingYou're going to have surgeryYou have any health conditionsYou're taking any prescription medications Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Cancer Society. "Choosing and Using Dietary Supplements." National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. "Using Dietary Supplements Wisely." National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. "Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know." U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Tips for Dietary Supplement Users." By Shereen Lehman, MS Shereen Lehman, MS, is a healthcare journalist and fact checker. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Related Articles The Best Places to Buy Vitamins Online, According to a Dietitian The 9 Best Vitamin Brands of 2022, According to a Dietitian Do I Really Need Hydration Supplements? 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