dietary supplement

Meaning of dietary supplement: Taken by mouth to add to regular food, these products supply concentrated nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, or amino acids.

Definition of dietary supplement

A dietary supplement is a product taken by mouth that is intended to add to a person's regular diet rather than replace it. It typically contains one or more dietary ingredients, such as a vitamin, mineral, herb, amino acid, or enzyme, often in a concentrated form such as a tablet, capsule, powder, or liquid.

Dietary supplements are used for various reasons, including addressing a known nutrient gap, supporting general health, or providing a nutrient that can be difficult to obtain in sufficient amounts through food alone. Some contain a single ingredient, while others combine several together.

In many jurisdictions, dietary supplements are regulated as a category of food rather than as medication, which affects the type of evidence required before a product reaches the market and is a relevant consideration when weighing claims made about a particular supplement's effect.