Dietary Supplements
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not review the manufacturing of dietary supplements and therefore cannot guarantee they are safe or effective. Because safety is a priority at CHOP, we discourage the use of dietary supplements for our hospitalized patients. If your child takes a dietary supplement at home, but it is not approved for use at CHOP, you may be asked to take the supplement home. If you cannot take the supplement home, we can safely store it at CHOP until your child is discharged. If you feel strongly that your child should continue to receive the dietary supplement while at CHOP, you will be asked to review the information in this document and discuss any questions you have with your child's healthcare provider.
If your child's healthcare provider agrees to continue the dietary supplements, you will be responsible for supplying the supplements and giving them to your child. You will also be asked to sign a paper (waiver) that states you are agreeing to do this.
What are dietary supplements?
Dietary supplements are vitamins, minerals, and herbs. Other substances such as botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and animal extracts may also be used. They can come as tablets, capsules, powders and liquids. Dietary supplements are meant to "supplement" the diet, and should never replace the balance of foods that are important for a healthy diet.
Who should take them?
Dietary supplements are not for everyone. Dietary supplements are not medicines. They are not intended to treat, diagnose, prevent, or cure diseases. Some patients with certain medical conditions may need to take supplements if their diet does not contain enough of a certain nutrient.
What are the risks?
Unlike medicines, dietary supplements are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, purity or quality.
There are risks to taking supplements. Side effects or interactions with other drugs can occur. Prescription medicines are thoroughly studied for side effects and effects on other medicines. Supplements do not go through this process. There is no guarantee that dietary supplements will not cause harm to your child or affect the safety and effectiveness of their other medications.
Some tips about dietary supplements
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The term "natural" does not necessarily mean that the supplement is safe to use. Without FDA regulation, products may not be pure.
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Do not use supplements to replace poor dietary intake of a nutrient.
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Use caution and think carefully when you see potentially-false claims such as "cure-all," "secret ingredient," or "scientific breakthrough."
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Always discuss the use of dietary supplements with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before use.
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If your healthcare provider recommends the use of a dietary supplement, obtain products that are "USP verified" whenever possible to ensure product quality. Read the product label carefully to make sure the supplement does not contain additional ingredients that were not recommended by your healthcare professional.
Resources available
American Academy of Pediatrics:
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Dietary Supplements
HPA: Alliance for Holistic Family Health and Wellness
The Journal of Chinese Medicine
The Journal of Chinese Medicine is the foremost English language journal on all aspects of Chinese medicine including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, dietary medicine and Chinese medical history and philosophy.
Reviewed on May 1, 2022, by Susan Ramsey, PharmD, BCPPS