This collection of fact sheets and other resources from the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements and other federal government sources presents information about dietary supplements and their ingredients. These include vitamins, minerals, herbs and botanicals, probiotics, and more. Many of these resources are available in versions written for consumers (in both English and Spanish) and also for health professionals.
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A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
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T
V
W
Y
Z
A
- Acai
Common names: acai, açaí, Amazonian palm berry.
Latin name: Euterpe oleracea.
- Activated charcoal
- African mango (see Weight Loss)
- Alfalfa
- Aloe vera
Common names: aloe vera, aloe, burn plant, lily of the desert, elephant’s gall
Latin names: Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis - Anabolic steroids
Body-building products containing anabolic steroids may be falsely marketed as dietary supplements, but they are considered to be adulterated and misbranded drugs. - Antioxidants (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Apple cider vinegar
- Arginine (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Ashwagandha
- Astragalus
Common names: astragalus, bei qi, huang qi, ogi, hwanggi, milk vetch
Latin names: Astragalus membranaceus, Astragalus mongholicus - Athletic and exercise performance (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Vitamin A
Rich sources of vitamin A include green leafy, orange, and yellow vegetables such as carrots and spinach.
B
- Bacopa monnieri
- BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Bee pollen
- Beetroot (beet juice) (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Berberine
- Beta-alanine (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Beta-carotene (see Vitamin A)
- Beta-glucans (see Weight Loss)
- Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Betaine (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Bilberry
Common names: bilberry, European blueberry, whortleberry, huckleberry
Latin name: Vaccinium myrtillus - Biotin
Biotin is naturally present in some foods, such as salmon and eggs. - Bitter melon
- Bitter orange
Common names: bitter orange, Seville orange, sour orange, zhi shi
Latin name: Citrus aurantium - Black cohosh
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) - Blessed thistle
- Blue-green algae
- Blueberry
- Boron
Apples are a good source of boron. - Botanical Dietary Supplements
- Branched-chain amino acids (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Bromelain
Common names: bromelain, pineapple extract
Latin name (for pineapple): Ananas comosus L. - Butterbur
Common names: butterbur, petasites and purple butterbur. Butterbur is also known under several patented standardized extract forms, such as Petadolex.
Latin names: Petasites hybridus (also known as Petasitidis hybridus, Petasites officinalis, or Tussilago hybrida).
- Vitamin B1 (see Thiamin)
- Vitamin B12
Foods from animals, but not plants, naturally have vitamin B12. These include fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and other dairy products. - Vitamin B2 (see Riboflavin)
- Vitamin B3 (see Niacin)
- Vitamin B5 (see Pantothenic acid)
- Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is found naturally in many foods and is added to others. - Vitamin B7 (see Biotin)
- Vitamin B9 (see Folate)
C
- Caffeine
- Caffeine (for athletic performance) (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Caffeine (for weight loss) (see Weight Loss)
- Calcium
Calcium-rich foods include milk, cheese, and yogurt; vegetables like kale, broccoli, and Chinese cabbage; and canned sardines and salmon with soft bones that you eat. - Calcium (for weight loss) (see Weight Loss)
- Calendula
- Cannabidiol (CBD)
- Capsaicin (see Weight Loss)
- Capsaicinoids
- Capsicum
- Carnitine
Animal products such as meat, fish, poultry, and milk are the best sources of carnitine. - Carnitine (for weight loss) (see Weight Loss)
- Cartilage (bovine and shark)
- Cascara sagrada
- Cat's claw
Cat's Claw (Uncaria guianensis) - CBD (cannabidiol)
- Cesium
- Chamomile
- Chamomile (Roman)
- Chasteberry
- Chitosan (see Weight Loss)
- Choline
You can get recommended amounts of choline by eating a variety of foods. - Chondroitin
Chondroitin is found in cartilage, the connective tissue that helps cushion the joints. - Chromium
Chromium is a mineral found in many foods. - Chromium (for weight loss) (see Weight Loss)
- Cinnamon
- Citrulline (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Clove
- Cobalamin (see Vitamin B12)
- Cod liver oil
- Coenzyme Q10
- Cola nut (kola nut) (see Weight Loss)
- Coleus forskohlii (forskolin) (see Weight Loss)
- Colloidal silver
- Conjugated linoleic acid (see Weight Loss)
- Copper
Nuts are a rich source of copper. - Coronavirus and “alternative” treatments
- Cranberry
Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) - Creatine
- Creatine (for performance enhancement) (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Vitamin C
You can get enough vitamin C by eating a variety of foods including citrus fruits (such as oranges and grapefruit) and their juices, as well as red and green pepper, kiwifruit, broccoli, strawberries, baked potatoes, and tomatoes.
E
- Echinacea
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) - Eleuthero
- Energy drinks
“Energy” drinks are marketed as promoting alertness, concentration, energy, weight loss, athletic performance, or stamina. - Ephedra
- Essiac/Flor-Essence
- Eucalyptus
- European elder
European Elder (Sambucus nigra) - Evening primrose oil
Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) - Exercise and Athletic Performance
Some dietary supplement ingredients are claimed to enhance exercise and athletic performance. - Vitamin E
Many foods have vitamin E including vegetable oils (such as wheat germ, sunflower, and safflower oils), nuts (such as almonds), seeds (such as sunflower seeds), and green vegetables (such as spinach and broccoli).
V
- Valerian
Valerian (Valerian officinalis) - Valine (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Vinpocetine
- Vitamin A
Rich sources of vitamin A include green leafy, orange, and yellow vegetables such as carrots and spinach. - Vitamin B1 (see Thiamin)
- Vitamin B12
Foods from animals, but not plants, naturally have vitamin B12. These include fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and other dairy products. - Vitamin B2 (see Riboflavin)
- Vitamin B3 (see Niacin)
- Vitamin B5 (see Pantothenic acid)
- Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is found naturally in many foods and is added to others. - Vitamin B7 (see Biotin)
- Vitamin B9 (see Folate)
- Vitamin C
You can get enough vitamin C by eating a variety of foods including citrus fruits (such as oranges and grapefruit) and their juices, as well as red and green pepper, kiwifruit, broccoli, strawberries, baked potatoes, and tomatoes. - Vitamin D
Very few foods naturally have vitamin D. Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel are among the best sources. Fortified foods like milk provide most of the vitamin D in American diets. - Vitamin D (for weight loss) (see Weight Loss)
- Vitamin E
Many foods have vitamin E including vegetable oils (such as wheat germ, sunflower, and safflower oils), nuts (such as almonds), seeds (such as sunflower seeds), and green vegetables (such as spinach and broccoli). - Vitamin K
Green leafy vegetables are good sources of vitamin K.
Z
- Zinc
Many foods have zinc. Red meat, poultry, oysters and other seafood, and fortified breakfast cereals are good sources. Beans, nuts, whole grains, and dairy products have some zinc as well.
General Supplement Information
Supplements for Specific Purposes