For those who for various reasons, nutritional deficits, dietary supplements may be an interesting alternative. This was explained in an interview with La Prensa Dr. Nestor Lentini, specialist in sports medicine and director of postgraduate specialty at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). What are dietary supplements What are they . Dietary supplements should really be called dietary supplements, because they are used to cover nutritional deficits seen in the early ages by poor nutrition or malnutrition in young people are increasingly using so-called junk food and adults, especially in the elderly group, where as a result of a slower metabolism and nutrient absorption deficit is necessary to resort to this type of supplementation. They are also used in sports and high performance for the nutritional supplement, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that athletes should consume to cover possible deficiencies arising from many hours of training, which are subjected daily. Dietary supplements are also used to cover the nutritional needs in different conditions such as dyslipidemia, obesity, overweight, among others. Are all dietary supplements are equal or there different types . Not all supplements are equal, as some are herbal products whose components are not accurately known, are not adequately controlled and there is no certainty that indicated on the label accurately reflects the contents of the package.In addition they can often be contaminated with substances harmful to health as a derivatives of amphetamines or anabolic steroids. Others, however, are produced from organic vegetable farms where pesticides are not used or soil contaminants. Josyann Abisaab This ensures the concentration of nutrients in supplements and makes reliable, why more stringent than the international laboratory analysis of quality control. “The role of dietary supplements can also be achieved through proper nutrition It is clear that a diet that meets the requirements of quantity and quality can meet all needs or daily nutritional requirements, but unfortunately this situation is increasingly difficult to obtain due to processing as a result of receiving food from harvested until arriving at our table, as freezing, cooking, harvesting fruit without completing their maturation, among other things, causes a deficit of 40 to 60 of the nutritional quality of foods. This justifies the use of natural and organic supplements. Medical supervision. Does the indication of taking them must be given by a physician . Although dietary supplements are not drugs, under certain circumstances as different pathologies seen in children and adults, it is best to check with the attending physician and in the case of nutrition-related diseases (obesity, overweight, anorexia, bulimia, dyslipidemia) is to consult with his / nutritionist to suggest such dietary supplementation. In healthy people who require supplementation from different causes (stress, fatigue, overwork, etc.) can be recommended by persons trained in the sale of these products. Is there any contraindications . In general no contraindications.