This collection of fact sheets and other resources from the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) and other federal government sources provides 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 health professionals and for consumers (in both English and Spanish).
A
- Acai
- Herbs at a Glance: Acai
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
- Acai Berry
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Common names: acai, açaí, Amazonian palm berry.
Latin name: Euterpe oleracea.
- Activated charcoal
- African mango (see Weight Loss)
- Alfalfa
- Alfalfa
- Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Aloe vera
- Aloe Vera
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
- Aloe Vera
- Source: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Common names: aloe vera, aloe, burn plant, lily of the desert, elephant’s gall
Latin names: Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis
- Alzheimer's disease
- Andrographis
- Antioxidants
- Apple cider vinegar
- Arginine (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Ashwagandha
- Astragalus
- Astragalus
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
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
- Bee pollen
- Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- 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
- Bilberry
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
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 Melon
- Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Bitter orange
- Bitter Orange
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
- Bitter Orange for weight loss (see Weight Loss)
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
- Blueberry
- Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Boron
Apples are a good source of boron.
- Botanical Dietary Supplements
- Brain health
- Branched-chain amino acids (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Bromelain
- Bromelain
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Common names: bromelain, pineapple extract
Latin name (for pineapple): Ananas comosus L.
- Butterbur
- Butterbur
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
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.
- 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
- 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.
- Calendula
- Calendula
- Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Cannabidiol (CBD)
- Capsaicin (see Weight Loss)
- Capsaicinoids
- Capsicum
- Carnitine
Animal products such as meat, fish, poultry, and milk are the best sources of carnitine.
- Cartilage (bovine and shark)
- Cascara sagrada
- Cat's claw
- Cat's Claw
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Cat's Claw (Uncaria guianensis)
- CBD (cannabidiol)
- Cesium
- Chamomile
- Chamomile
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
- Chamomile (Roman)
- Chasteberry
- Chasteberry
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
- 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.
- Cinnamon
- Cinnamon
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
- Citrulline (see Exercise and Athletic Performance)
- Clove
- Clove
- Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Cobalamin (see Vitamin B12)
- Cod liver oil
- Cod Liver Oil
- Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- 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.
- COVID-19
- Cranberry
- Cranberry
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
- Creatine
- 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 and COVID-19 (see COVID-19)
- Echinacea and immune function (see Immune Function)
- Echinacea
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
- Elderberry
European Elder (Sambucus nigra)
- Eleuthero
- Eleuthero
- Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Energy drinks
“Energy” drinks are marketed as promoting alertness, concentration, energy, weight loss, athletic performance, or stamina.
- Ephedra
- Essiac/Flor-Essence
- Eucalyptus
- Eucalyptus
- Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Evening primrose oil
Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
- Exercise and Athletic Performance
Some dietary supplement ingredients are claimed to enhance exercise and athletic performance.
- Eye conditions
- Eye conditions
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- 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).
F
- Fenugreek
- Fenugreek
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
- Feverfew
- Feverfew
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
- Fish oil (see Omega-3 fatty acids)
- Flaxseed
Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum)
- Fluoride
Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay.
- Folate
Folic acid is added to many grain-based products.
- Folic acid (see Folate)
- Forskolin (coleus forskohlii) (see Weight Loss)
- Fucoxanthin (see Weight Loss)
K
- Kava
- Kava
- Kava
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Kava (Piper methysticum)
- Ketones
- Kola nut (cola nut) (see Weight Loss)
- Vitamin K
Green leafy vegetables are good sources of vitamin K.
V
- Valerian
- Valerian
- Valerian
- Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
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.
- 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 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