If you are considering trying supplements to support your health or reproductive journey, you may be finding a lot of conflicting information. Are supplements effective or not? Why does my doctor recommend a prenatal or Vitamin D supplement but not others? Which supplements might work best for me? While there is emerging research on the effectiveness of many supplements, overall, there tends to be a lack of data available that can make selecting appropriate ones difficult for most people.
Does that mean supplements are worthless? Of course not! At Lily + Horn, all our practitioners have advanced or terminal degrees and have extensive training and experience in prescribing evidence-based supplements to target specific pathways in the body. If you are eating a healthy diet, are active, sleep well at night and are not struggling with any health or reproductive issues, you likely do not need supplements in your routine (unless you are pregnant and then it is advised to take a prenatal vitamin). But if you are experiencing a health or reproductive challenge, targeted supplements can help optimize your body chemistry, help you reach your goals faster, and enhance your quality of life. While most supplements are harmless, when taken incorrectly, some can be dangerous, so we believe it is worthwhile to work with a skilled practitioner to help create a customized supplement plan for each individual. Taking the wrong supplements can also be expensive, so spending some of those dollars on a consultation creates a more streamlined, effective plan.
Unlike over-the-counter and prescription medications, the FDA does not require dietary supplements to be proven safe; they are considered safe until proven otherwise. While companies are responsible for having evidence that their product is safe and ensuring their labeling and branding is truthful, the FDA does not regulate this. It only takes action after a product has come to market and is found to be mislabeled, harmful, or adulterated. Although many companies self-regulate and do third party testing to prove that their products do what they claim, are safe, and contain the ingredients/dosages listed on the label, it is estimated that over half do not, which means there is no guarantee you are taking what is listed on the bottle. This also means that not all brands of the same supplement are equal, so working with a practitioner who is knowledgeable about which brands are reliable and how to effectively dose and combine them, can be a game changer for outcomes.
Supplement sales online and in stores have ballooned in the past decade, especially since 2018. It is estimated that over 76% of adults in the US take some sort of supplement for their health. Many of the patients we see in our office have learned about some supplements from books, influencers or other sources, but many are taking too many supplements, incorrect dosages, or not the right ones for their goals. There are also times where patients have expected supplements to fix something that needs a more aggressive Western medical approach like IVF, prescription medications, or surgery.
At Lily + Horn, we practice an integrative approach, one that works side by side with Western medicine, so our patients receive advice and care that helps them reach their goals as quickly as possible, with less stress and anxiety. Each person is unique and therefore deserves customized advice and treatments. Often, that is a combination of supplements, diet and lifestyle changes, acupuncture, Western medical checkups and testing to rule out serious issues, and prescription medications or surgery or other procedures if needed. We support the preferences of our patients when it comes to fast tracking to more aggressive medical treatments OR giving more natural methods a chance to work, but we are always aiming for the plan that helps each patient reach their goals in the fastest, least stressful way, especially when it comes to reproductive outcomes. Along the way, we aim to teach our patients how to optimize their health, navigate challenges, build resilience, and improve their quality of life. This is why working with an acupuncturist in the months leading up to an IVF cycle improves live birth rates instead of just pregnancy rates. We work on improving the overall health of each patient who walks in our door, giving them tools and knowledge to take with them for ongoing health and longevity.