Supplement your supplements knowledge

Dietary supplements may seem like harmless health boosters. But while some have proven benefits, many don’t. Unlike drugs, dietary supplements aren’t evaluated or reviewed by Government agencies for safety and effectiveness, and even “natural” supplements can be risky depending on the medicines you take or the medical conditions you have. In recent years, hundreds of supplements also have been found to be tainted with drugs and other chemicals. Always talk to your doctor before you take a new supplement, and avoid any supplement claiming it’s a “cure.”

Produced in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration

• What’s a Dietary Supplement?
• Are Dietary Supplements Safe?
• Supplements Claiming to be Cures
• Tainted Products
• How to Report a Potential Problem

What’s a Dietary Supplement?

Dietary supplements include:

• vitamins and minerals
• amino acids
• enzymes
• herbs
• animal extracts
• probiotics

They come in a number of forms, including capsules, liquids, and powders. But while dietary supplements might seem similar to drugs, and some even have drug-like effects, there’s a big difference: Dietary supplements don’t undergo review for safety and effectiveness before they’re sold.

Are Dietary Supplements Safe?

Dietary supplements aren’t always safe or harmless. Even “natural” supplements can be risky for people on certain medicines or with certain medical conditions, and some supplements have been found to be tainted with drugs or other chemicals. 

Even “traditional remedies” with a long history of use aren’t guaranteed to be safe in all cases.

Substances for which safety concerns have been raised include:

• comfrey
• chaparral
• lobelia
• germander
• aristolochia
• ephedra (ma huang)
• L-tryptophan
• germanium
• magnolia-stephania
• stimulant laxative ingredients, like those found in dieter’s teas

Comfrey, for example, contains certain alkaloids that can cause serious liver damage, and aristolochia can cause kidney failure.

Even some vitamins and minerals, when taken in inappropriate amounts, can cause problems. For example, too much vitamin A can reduce bone mineral density, cause birth defects, and lead to liver damage, according to the National Academy of Sciences. 

Always read labels and package inserts and follow product directions. But remember that dietary supplement labels and ingredients aren’t evaluated by Government agencies before they’re sold. Check with your health care professional — your best and most important source on whether a supplement is safe for you.

Supplements Claiming to be Cures

Promises for a quick cure or solution for a serious health problem may be hard to resist — but supplements claiming to shrink tumours, cure insomnia, cure impotency, treat Alzheimer’s disease, or prevent severe memory loss aren’t proven. Besides cheating you out of your money, they also may hurt your health.

Under Federal law, dietary supplements can’t be promoted for the treatment of a disease because they aren’t proven to be safe and effective.

Treat weight loss products with suspicion, too. Claims that you can eat all you want and still lose weight effortlessly just aren’t true. To lose weight — and keep it off — you have to eat fewer calories and increase your activity.

Other tip-offs to a fraud include:

Claims that one product does it all and cures a wide variety of health problems.

“Proven to treat rheumatism, arthritis, infections, prostate problems, ulcers, cancer, heart trouble, hardening of the arteries and more.”

Suggestions the product can treat or cure diseases.

“Shrinks tumors,” or “Prevents severe memory loss.”

Words like scientific breakthrough, miraculous cure, exclusive product, secret ingredient, or ancient remedy.

“A revolutionary innovation formulated by using proven principles of natural health-based medical science.”

Misleading use of scientific-sounding terms.

“Molecule multiplicity,” “glucose metabolism,” “thermogenesis,” or “insulin receptor sites.”

Phony references to Nobel Prize winning technology or science.

“Nobel Prize Winning Technology,” or “Developed by two times Nobel prize winner.”

Undocumented testimonials by patients or doctors claiming miraculous results.

“My grandfather has Alzheimer’s disease. He began eating a teaspoonful of this product each day. And now, in just 20 days, he mowed the grass, cleaned out the garage, weeded the flower beds, and we take our morning walk again.”

Limited availability and a need to pay in advance.

“Hurry. This offer will not last. Send us a check now to reserve your supply.”

Promises of no-risk “money-back guarantees.

“If after 30 days you have not lost at least 4 pounds each week, your uncashed check will be returned to you.”

Tainted Products

In the last few years, Government agencies have discovered hundreds of “dietary supplements” containing drugs or other chemicals, particularly in products for weight loss or bodybuilding.

The “extra ingredients” generally aren’t listed on the label, but could cause serious side effects or interact in dangerous ways with medicines or other supplements you’re taking. Tainted supplements often are sold with false and misleading claims like “100% natural” and “safe.” To recognize tainted products, look for:

• products claiming to be alternatives to Government approved drugs or have effects similar to prescription drugs
• products claiming to be legal alternatives to anabolic steroids
• marketing materials primarily in a foreign language
• promises of rapid effects or results

Always consult your doctor before taking any supplement.