Dietary supplements are like any other aspect of healthcare - they're not for everyone, and you should check with your doctor first.

Most people believe nutritional supplements - herbs, vitamins, minerals and other substances - are necessary and beneficial to everyone, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But this is untrue, because dietary supplements can be unnecessary or can create unexpected risks.

Dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA. Drugs are regularly through the FDA, but dietary supplements are not.

It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to produce safe supplements that substantiate their claims. Once a product is placed into the marketplace, the FDA has the authority to take action against a dietary supplement that presents a "significant or unreasonable risk or injury," according to the FDA.

Dietary supplements are intended to supplement a person's diet. For example, a doctor may suggest that people who are lactose-intolerant take a supplement to get enough calcium.

Supplements should not be used as a substitute for eating healthy foods the body needs, according to the FDA. In addition, supplements should not necessarily be used to boost people's intake of nutrients - especially if they are already receiving enough nutrients. Too few or too many nutrients can have a detrimental effect on a person's health.

But supplements can help fix problems within the body, according to Dr. Virginia Steiner of the Alternative Health Care and Injury Center in Marion, "Another part of supplementation is repairing your body," Steiner said. "It's more important for us to prevent."

Steiner said physician-prescribed supplementations can be important aspects of a healthcare routine.

"It improves your quality of life so much," Steiner said.

People need to consider what medications they are taking when deciding to take a supplement. A calcium supplement could beneficial for a person who is not taking any medications. However, calcium supplements are believed to interact with heart medications - creating a problem for the consumer who uses both.

Drug interactions are an important reason for consumers to speak with their doctors before using dietary supplements.

"Taking a combination of supplements or using these products together with medications could, under certain circumstances, produce adverse effects, some of which could be life-threatening," according to the FDA. "Be alert to advisories about these products, whether taken alone or in combination."

Examples of common drug interactions include magnesium and cancer drugs; Vitamin K and a blood thinner; and St. John's Wort and anti-depression drugs.

Dietary supplements can cause problems for children and pregnant women.

"Dietary supplements may not be risk-free under certain circumstances," the FDA states. "If you are pregnant, nursing a baby or have a chronic medical condition such as diabetes, hypertension or heart disease, be sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist before purchasing or taking any supplement."

When choosing a supplement, if the claims seem inflated or unrealistic, the consumers should consider what they are actually taking. A product that makes claims of being a "cure-all" will likely not deliver on its lofty promises.

A popular claim with dietary supplements is that even if a product won't help a person, it won't hurt them either. But that isn't always true.

"It's best not to assume that this will always be true," states the FDA. "When consumed in high enough amounts, for a long enough time, or in combination with certain other substances, all chemicals can be toxic, including nutrients, plant components and other biologically active ingredients."