Advising consumers about dietary supplements: lessons from cranberry products

Consumers are continuing to incorporate dietary supplements as part of their routine health care. Yet, even as the market continues to grow, questions regarding safety, efficacy, and quality remain. Clinicians are increasingly being asked to advise their patients about the safe and efficacious use of such products. Cranberry is a commonly encountered supplement that has been studied comprehensively. We review some of the findings from the evaluation of cranberry as a dietary supplement and suggest how such findings can be shared effectively with patients and consumers.