From nutraceuticals to botanicals to multi-ingredient formulations, there’s no shortage of options for providers interested in recommending supplements, and the industry continues to innovate at an incredible pace.

Whether your practice specializes in treating chronic low-back pain, headaches and migraines, or improving overall health, nutritional supplementation can drastically improve patient health outcomes when used in conjunction with standard modes of treatment. This guide provides you with the initial information needed to comfortably use dietary supplements in your practice.

Authors

Ross Bailey, MKin, BScKin

Lead Analyst, Medical Innovation

Ross graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Science specializing in kinesiology, then completed a Master’s in Kinesiology at Western University. At Western, he worked as a teaching assistant in the cadaver labs for undergraduate anatomy courses. Ross enjoys conducting in-depth research reviews on a variety of medical topics and is an advocate for evidence-based decision support. He actively engages in continuing education on subjects like research methods in systematic reviews and meta-analyses, supplement quality standards, and the regulation of sports nutrition.

Alex Keller, ND

Medical Director

Dr. Alex Keller is a licensed and practicing naturopathic doctor in Ottawa, Canada and the medical director at Fullscript. As medical director, he oversees the Integrative Medical Advisory team (IMAT) and the development of educational content for practitioners across North America. He is a graduate of the University of Ottawa with an HBSc in Health Sciences and Psychology. Although originally planning to attend conventional medical school, Dr. Keller shifted direction and completed a degree in naturopathic medicine at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. The shift followed a three-month internship at a rural Kenyan hospital where he worked with doctors who used local food to successfully treat patients, after which he felt compelled to practice a diet-oriented system of medicine. Today, he splits his time working for Fullscript, seeing patients, and developing an innovative regenerative farming operation. He lives with his wife Jenn and their two children on a 50-acre farm outside Ottawa.

Disclaimer

This site is intended solely as an informational reference tool for practicing healthcare professionals. The content provided is not intended to be for medical diagnosis or treatment, is not a substitute for your professional judgment, and is not meant to provide you with medical or professional advice. You should evaluate and independently confirm the appropriateness of the content provided, and you should rely on your experience and judgment and other available resources when applying the provided content to an actual patient care situation. While content has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, we cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy, validity, timeliness, or completeness of the content.