- What you need to know first
- Risks and side effects
- Dietary supplement advertising and promotion
- Talking with your doctor
- Common misconceptions about dietary supplements
- FDA regulation of drugs versus dietary supplements
- Manufacturing guidelines for dietary supplements
- Reading dietary supplement labels
- Guidelines for choosing dietary supplements safely
- To learn more
- References
To learn more
More information from your American Cancer Society
We have selected some related information that may also be helpful to you. These materials may be ordered from our toll-free number, 1-800-227-2345, or read on our Web site, www.cancer.org.
Complementary and Alternative Methods in Cancer Management
Guidelines for Using Complementary and Alternative Methods
Learning About New Cancer Treatments
Learning About New Cancer Prevention Methods
American Cancer Society Operational Statement on Complementary and Alternative Methods of Cancer Management
Clinical Trials: What You Need to Know
Along with the above, information on many different types of complementary and alternative treatments are available at no cost to you from the American Cancer Society. You can find it on our Web site or request it from our toll-free number, 1-800-227-2345.
Books
The following book is available from the American Cancer Society. Call us to ask about cost or to place your order.
The American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies, 2nd Edition. 2009.
National organizations and Web sites*
Along with the American Cancer Society, other sources of information and support include:
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements
Telephone: 301-435-2920
Web site: http://ods.od.nih.gov/
Excellent information about wise supplement use and detailed fact sheets about individual vitamins and supplements
US Food and Drug Administration
Toll-free number: 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332)
Web site: www.fda.gov
Information about labels, rules, regulations, and more about dietary supplements as well as tips for spotting frauds and scams
US Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Information Center
Toll-free number: 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332)
Web site: http://fnic.nal.usda.gov
Choose “Dietary Supplements” from the left menu bar for info on nutrients, botanicals, herbs, and access to the International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements (IBIDS) database
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
About Herbs and Botanicals
Web site: www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11570.cfm
Provides evidence-based information about herbs, botanicals, supplements, and more, for consumers and health care professionals
MedWatch
Toll-free number: 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088)
Web site: www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm
Choose “Report a serious medical product problem online” if you wish to report an adverse event; or you can call them to report any ill effects
US Pharmacopeia (USP)
Toll-free number: 1-800-227-8772
Web site: www.usp.org
More about USP and NF, and their standards
National Council Against Health Fraud
Web site: www.ncahf.org
Offers information on health myths, fraud, and quackery as public health problems, using the principles of science to help consumers avoid scams
No matter who you are, we can help. Contact us anytime, day or night, for information and support. Call us at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
Last Medical Review: 09/22/2011
Last Revised: 09/22/2011