Dietary Supplements

It turns out mother was right when she said, “Eat your vegetables.” Nutritionists, citing dozens of scientific studies in recent years, say the vitamins and minerals in fruits and vegetables keep the body fit and strengthen its defenses against cancer, heart disease and other ailments. Now, some also endorse taking dietary supplements for added protection. Health-conscious Americans responded by buying more than $4 billion worth of nutrition supplements last year, including herbal products. Supplement producers want Congress to pass proposed legislation limiting the authority of the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate their products. Consumer-protection groups oppose such a law, saying it would stop the agency from cracking down on unsafe supplements and those that make questionable or misleading claims.