An irony at play: a patient’s gift of a box of donuts is offered in thanks just as a physician recommends “more vegetables, less refined sugar.”

In American culture, blood, sweat, and tears mantras of sports remind athletes that they are expected to perform past their breaking points. 

Helping patients mitigate their risk of chronic disease is key, but dietary supplements are risky.

Illegal, fraudulent, adulterated, or improperly labeled products should be regarded as sources of possible clinical and ethical harm to patients.

Dr Ilisa B. G. Bernstein joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article, coauthored with Karin L. Bolte: “Is My Patient Taking an Unsafe Dietary Supplement?”

Dietary supplements can have side effects; interact with medications, food, or other supplements; or be unsafe.

Dr Ala Shaikhkhalil joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article, coauthored with Drs Ethan A. Mezoff and Hannah Hays: “Should Clinicians Prescribe Non-FDA Regulated Dietary Supplements When Caring for Children With Hypovitaminosis D?”

Dr Katherine Wu joins Ethics Talk to discuss her article, coauthored with Dr Erik Messamore: “Reimagining Roles of Dietary Supplements in Psychiatric Care.”

Children with micronutrient deficiency might need supplementation, sometimes in irregularly high doses.

Government-supported review and safety monitoring is needed for dietary supplements’ use in the care of patients with mental illness.