A Step-by-Step Approach to Supplement Recommendations

Reviewed 10/16/26 by the NatMed Clinical Team

Top Takeaways

Start with the patient's goals, then check the clinical evidence and safety for that specific patient and work together to reach a shared decision. 
Choose a quality-verified product that matches what was studied, since certification alone doesn't confirm effectiveness or safety.

It’s estimated that about 8 in 10 adults in the US currently take at least one dietary supplement. As clinicians face more and more questions about these products, guidelines to help provide recommendations are crucial. Here’s an approach to keep in mind.

What is the patient trying to achieve?

Before starting any new supplement, it’s important to understand a patient’s goals. What are they hoping it will help? What have they tried so far, and how did it work? Where did they hear about this supplement? Once it’s clear why a patient wants to try a certain supplement, it can help guide further discussions.

Does the evidence support it?

Knowing why a patient wants to try a supplement then allows for a review of the evidence. Evaluate the strength of the data. Is there strong clinical evidence – or is information limited to preliminary lab or animal data suggesting theoretical benefit? Consider using resources such as the NatMed Effectiveness Ratings and Effectiveness by Condition tool to streamline this process – our Effectiveness Ratings weigh the quality, size, and consistency of clinical evidence for you, making it easier to analyze and share findings with patients.

Is it safe for this patient, and is it worth any potential risks?

Review a patient’s health history and any other medications or supplements they’re taking to identify potential interactions. Our Interactions Checker can help you quickly pinpoint interactions between prescription medications, OTCs, and other supplements. Review the safety data – are there existing safety concerns with appropriate use? If so, weigh the risk vs possible benefit. And consider if risk can be minimized with dosing adjustments. Special considerations should also be taken for certain patient populations – for example, pregnancy and lactation data can be reviewed in our Pregnancy & Lactation Safety tool. Refer to our Interactions with Conditions data for considerations in patients with certain conditions.

How do you give a bottom line?

Start by sharing with your patient an objective summary of what is known about effectiveness and safety. Many options fall into a gray area of “it might work and it doesn’t seem harmful” or "we don't know if it'll work or if it's safe," so help guide a shared decision. For example, if a patient strongly prefers to try a supplement despite limited evidence of efficacy, ensure there aren't safety concerns. Then suggest a trial period with a specific benefit they hope to see by the end, and a plan to stop if it doesn’t help.

Which product should they choose? 

Look for products that match the form, dose, and standardization used in clinical trials – this gives the best chance that the clinical safety and effectiveness data match what the patient actually takes. Quality certifications are also key here to confirm product quality. Review reputable quality certifications like USP and NSF and help guide patients toward products that have been adequately tested. Use the filters in our Commercially Available Products database to find verified products. Also keep in mind that while certifications confirm product quality, they don’t confirm effectiveness and safety, so matching it with the clinical data is key.

Where can you learn more?

Take advantage of our clinical tools and databases, including our Interactions Checker, Effectiveness by Condition, Commercially Available Products Database, and Nutrient Depletions Tool. Our interactive CE courses are also great resources on specific topics, such as Facilitating Discussions about Complementary and Alternative Therapies.