Questions to Ask Your Clinician or Dietitian About Protein and Amino Acid Supplements

How to use this list

This is a list of questions, not advice. Health agencies say to tell your health care providers about supplements you use. MedlinePlus lists this as its first step for taking a supplement as safely as possible. [1] NCCIH invites people to talk with their providers about the approaches they use so that decisions can be shared and informed. [2] Bring the product or a photo of its label, plus a list of your medicines. Write answers down. Nothing here replaces the advice of someone who knows your health history. For a short checklist to complete before buying, see Before You Start a Protein or Amino Acid Supplement.

Questions about whether you need it

• Do my usual meals already cover my protein needs, and how would we check?
• Is there a medical reason I might need more or less protein than usual?
• Would food, rather than a powder or amino acid product, meet the same goal?
• What goal are we aiming for, and how will we tell whether it is working?

Background for these is in Are Protein and Amino Acid Supplements Necessary?.

Questions about your medicines

• Could this product interact with any prescription or over-the-counter medicine I take?
• Should I tell my pharmacist and every prescriber about it?
• Does my health status, for example a recent illness, change the answer?

FDA advises calling your health care professional first about mixing supplements and medicines, and letting them know what other supplements and medicines you take, including any change in your health such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, recent illness or surgery. [3] The NHS says people with chronic kidney disease should check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking over-the-counter medicines including nutritional supplements. [4] Never stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own. See Medication Interactions.

Questions if you have a long-term condition

Kidney disease or dialysis.

• Does my kidney condition mean I should limit or increase protein, and by how much?
• Is a protein powder suitable for me? Which of its other ingredients matter, such as phosphorus?

NIDDK says some people with chronic kidney disease may need moderate protein so waste does not build up, that too little protein may cause malnutrition, and that people should work with a dietitian or health care professional on the balance. [5] It also says people on dialysis may need more protein because dialysis removes protein from the blood. [5] See Protein and Kidney Disease.

Liver disease.

• Is any supplement, herbal or not, safe with my liver condition? What protein plan fits my stage?

NIDDK says people with cirrhosis should talk with their doctor before taking dietary supplements, including herbal ones, and that health care professionals can recommend a meal plan with the protein the body needs. [6]

Phenylketonuria (PKU) and other metabolic conditions.

• Does this product contain phenylalanine or other amino acids I must limit?

MedlinePlus Genetics describes PKU as an inherited disorder that raises phenylalanine, an amino acid obtained from some foods and artificial sweeteners. [7]

Allergies.

• Does the product contain milk, soy, egg, peanut, tree nut, wheat or other allergens, or might it be made where they are handled? What is my plan for a reaction?

The US allergen labeling law requires major allergen sources to be named on food labels, including supplements. [8]

Questions before surgery or procedures

• When should I tell the surgical team about this product, and should it be paused beforehand?

NCCIH says some supplements may raise bleeding risk or affect the response to anesthesia, and to tell providers as far ahead of an operation as possible. [2] FDA says a provider may ask people to stop supplements two or three weeks before a procedure. [3] That decision belongs to your surgical team. See Supplements Before Surgery.

Questions about the product itself

• Can we look at the label together? Are the amounts and ingredients clear? See Reading a Protein Powder Label and Reading an Amino Acid Supplement Label.
• Does independent testing apply to this product, and what does it cover? (If you compete in sport, ask about banned-substance rules.) [9]
• What side effects should make me contact you, and how long should we try it before reviewing?
• How should I report a problem? FDA asks people with a serious reaction to stop using the product and report it through its Safety Reporting Portal. [10]