Drugs vs. Dietary Supplements: Head-to-Head Science
Can natural supplements be as effective as drugs-or at least complementary?
Most mainstream consumers probably think of natural dietary supplements as ancillary products to be taken alongside a healthy diet and lifestyle-perhaps, even, alongside conventional drugs. Studies show, however, that natural products can provide powerful, therapeutic benefits on their own. Because they are powerful, several natural compounds can even interact with certain pharmaceuticals, which is why it’s always important to disclose the use of natural supplements to a healthcare provider if they are to be used concurrently with medication.
Here’s where supplements get really interesting, however: in a handful of cases, research even suggests that natural products may achieve results on par with conventional drugs. And, in other cases, researchers have studied how natural compounds can be used together with drugs to enhance a drug’s positive effects and perhaps even reduce its negative effects.
When all is said and done, regulators such as the U.S. FDA absolutely forbid drug-type claims for any dietary supplement product, and dietary supplement marketers should be extremely careful not to make claims that any supplement can “diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent” any disease.
Looking at the science never hurts, though, so here are some recent studies comparing the performance of drugs and supplements, as well as trials evaluating when the two together may be beneficial.
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