Work done by scientists in the early 20th century on identifying individual nutrients in food and developing ways to manufacture them raised hopes that optimal health could be achieved and diseases prevented by adding them to food and providing people with dietary supplements; while there were successes in preventing vitamin deficiencies, and preventing conditions like neural tube defects by supplementation and food fortification with folic acid, no targeted supplementation or fortification strategies to prevent major diseases like cancer or cardiovascular diseases have proved successful.[109]

Wide spreads: OTC stocks are prone to both wide bid-ask spreads and high volatility. The value of an OTC security may swing wildly depending on which market markers trade the stock. 

"If you can't keep eating a certain way forever, then you won't see the results forever. So you will have to keep up whatever changes you made to your diet in order to maintain weight loss," suggests Younkin.

Any changes you make in an effort to lose weight should be habits you can keep up for the long haul. Luckily for us, little changes that you enjoy can add up to big accomplishments over time.

Some specialized OTC brokers focus on specific markets or sectors, such as international OTC markets or penny stocks. These brokers may provide access to a wider range of OTC securities but may also charge higher fees or have more stringent account requirements or minimum transaction sizes.

And remember, since supplements aren’t tightly regulated, there’s risk for mislabeling and contamination. Purchasing supplements that are verified by a third party is the best way to avoid these risks.

Calcium—either from food or in weight-loss dietary supplements—probably doesn't help you lose weight or prevent weight gain.

OTC stocks have less trade liquidity due to low volume which leads to delays in finalizing the trade and wide bid-ask spreads.

The Most Important Thing for Weight Maintenance "After you've lost five to 10 percent of your body weight, experts suggest maintaining that weight for six months before trying to lose again (that is, if you still have weight to lose). This is how you can permanently move your set point—the weight range your body likes to stay in—down over time," says Younkin.

Vitamin C is essential for health, and it’s one of the building blocks of healthy blood vessels, cartilage, and muscles. Many people consume sufficient amounts of vitamin C in their diet, but those with a deficiency may need supplementation, notes the Mayo Clinic.

Magnesium is an important nutrient for health and is found in a number of foods, including nuts, seeds, and beans. Still, many people don’t get enough magnesium in their diet and may benefit from supplementation.

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Illiquidity: Many stocks traded OTC lack buyers and sellers, so getting out of your position can be challenging when needed.

It’s also wise to be aware of what the NSF categorizes as other types of claims that have no medical or regulated merit: