Consumer Reports Finds 'Dirty Dozen'
Supplements; Lack of Government Oversight
FDA says hidden drugs or steroids found in more
than 170 products marketed as supplements since 2008
Aug. 3, 2010 - A new investigation reported in the
September issue of Consumer Reports describes a striking lack of
government oversight for the bustling $26.7 billion dietary supplement
market and identifies a "dirty dozen" list of supplement ingredients
that have been linked by clinical research or case reports to serious
adverse events, such as cancer, coma, heart problems, kidney damage,
liver damage, or death.
The report is also available online at
http://www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.
Working with experts from the Natural Medicines
Comprehensive Database, an independent research group, Consumer
Reports identified 12 supplement ingredients linked to serious
adverse events by clinical research or case reports. Other factors were
also evaluated, including evidence of effectiveness for their purported
uses, and the extent to which the ingredients are readily available,
either alone or in combination products.
The dozen are -
> aconite,
> bitter orange,
> chaparral,
> colloidal silver,
> coltsfoot,
> comfrey,
> country mallow,
> germanium,
> greater celandine,
> kava,
> lobelia, and
> yohimbe.
FDA Has Warned Against Eight
Surprisingly, the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has warned about at least eight of these, some as long ago as
1993; those eight supplements include chaparral, colloidal silver,
comfrey, country mallow, germanium, kava, lobelia, and yohimbe.
But warnings have not prevented retailers from
selling supplements containing these ingredients.
More than half of the adult population in the U.S.
have taken supplements for a variety of reasons - to stay healthy, lose
weight, gain an edge in sports, or to improve their performance in the
bedroom. What consumers may not realize is that the supplement
manufacturers routinely, and legally, sell their products without first
having to demonstrate that they are safe and effective.
The Consumer Reports investigation states
that the FDA has not made full use of even the meager authority granted
it by the industry-friendly 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education
Act (DSHEA). The FDA has only once used its power to ban a supplement
ingredient (ephedrine alkaloids) outright.
"Supplements are marketed with very seductive and
sometimes overblown sales pitches for increasing your performance in the
bedroom, slimming down, or boosting your athletic prowess. And consumers
are easily lulled into believing that supplements can do no harm because
they're 'natural.' said Nancy Metcalf, senior program editor,
Consumer Reports.
However, some natural ingredients can be
hazardous, and on top of that the FDA has repeatedly found hazardous
ingredients, including synthetic prescription drugs, in supplements."
The report notes that, because of inadequate
quality control and inspection, supplements contaminated with heavy
metals, pesticides, or prescription drugs have been sold to unsuspecting
consumers.
The FDA says hidden drugs or steroids have been
found in more than 170 products marketed as supplements since 2008. As
evidence of the agency's inability to properly regulate the supplements
industry, Consumer Reports notes that the FDA has yet to inspect
a single supplement factory in China, which has become a major supplier
of raw supplement ingredients.
Consumer Reports' investigation also notes
that the FDA and Congress have recently taken some action to strengthen
the agency's oversight, such as passing a long overdue law that went
into effect in December 2007 requiring supplement companies to report
serious adverse events.
The FDA said it received 1,359 reports of serious
adverse effects from manufacturers and 602 from consumers and health
professionals from 2008 through 2009.
Consumer Reports believes that this law is a
good step but much more needs to be done to keep consumers safe. In the
meantime, here are some steps consumers can take to make sure the
supplements they use are safe and beneficial.
● Consult your doctor or pharmacist. Even
helpful products can be harmful, for example, if you're pregnant or
nursing, have a chronic disease, taking a medication that interacts
adversely with the supplement, or are about to undergo elective surgery.
● Beware of these categories. Supplements for
weight loss, sexual enhancement, and bodybuilding have been problematic,
the FDA said, because some contain steroids and prescription drugs.
● Look for the "USP Verified" mark. It
indicates that the supplement manufacturer has voluntarily asked U.S.
Pharmacopeia, a trusted nonprofit, private standard-setting authority,
to verify the quality, purity and potency of its raw ingredients or
finished products. USP posts a list of verified products on its website
at
http://www.uspverified.org.
● Don't assume more is better. It's possible
to overdose even on beneficial vitamins and minerals. Avoid any product
that claims to contain "megadoses."
● Report problems. Let your doctor know if you
experience any symptoms after you start taking a supplement. And if you
end up with a serious side effect, ask your doctor or pharmacist to
report it to the FDA, or do it yourself at
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-332-1088.
● Research in the right places. Be skeptical
about claims made for supplements in ads, on TV and by sales staff. If a
claim sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Consumer Reports
provides several online links for assessing supplements
atwww.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.
Information Source: Consumers Union
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