The market for dietary supplements is growing steadily, 35 percent of adults regularly use these products and in 1993, in the UK, sales amounted to over #235 million. These products are widely available to the general public via a number of outlets including pharmacies, grocery stores and health food shops. Whilst promotion of dietary supplements is generally accompanied by quasi-scientific claims, concise and accurate information on their actions and benefits is often lacking. Advice is increasingly sought from pharmacists, dietitians, doctors and other health professionals on the use of such supplements, and this has created the need for a comprehensive and accurate text to aid them in this task. This handbook aims to meet this need.