Nutritional Supplements & Health
A quick online search for the phrase “herbal supplement” or “health supplement” will reveal hundreds of products, many of which are so popular that you’ll almost certainly be able to find at least one at your local pharmacy or vitamin retailer. The fact that these products are widely used and sold should not give consumers the reassurance that supplements are effective or safe.
Medication Scams. A product called VitaPulse is a typical scam. The maker claims it is a natural supplement that provides "advanced antioxidant support to help maintain healthy cardio function and cholesterol levels, protect against cellular damage, decrease inflammation, and boost mitochondrial health and cellular energy." VitaPulse’smanufacturer doesn’t provide any clinical evidence to support these claims.
VitaPulse contains 3 overpriced vitamins ($49 plus S&H for 30 capsules), in quantities that have no established health benefit:
CoQ10: http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/coenzyme-q10/evidence/hrb-20059019 — "more studies evaluating a higher dose for a longer treatment period are needed"
NAC: http://www.nature.com/news/antioxidants-speed-cancer-in-mice-1.14606 — "A study in mice has found that ... commonly used antioxidants — … N-acetylcysteine (NAC) — speed the growth of lung cancer rather than curb it."
Pyrroloquinoline: http://examine.com/supplements/Pyrroloquinoline+quinone/ — "It is a coenzyme in bacteria ... but this role does not appear to extend to humans.”
Herbal Products: Bogus or Tainted. In January 2015, the NY State Attorney General's Office tested popular store brands of herbal supplements at GNC, Target, Walmart & Walgreens. The findings were surprising:
4 of 5 products contained none of the herbs listed on the label.
Some products were only fillers like starch or substances that could be dangerousto persons with food allergies.
Dangerous supplements can reach the market because they are not subject to review under current law. In 2013, an outbreak of hepatitis affecting 72 people in 16 states was traced to a tainted supplement. In 2014, an infant in Connecticut died when given a popular probiotic supplement that was found to be contaminated.
Lack of Oversight and Regulation. If you watch TV even for a short time, you will likely see ads for Prevagen, claiming it improves memory. This product has propelled its manufacturer, Quincy Bioscience, into the ranks of fastest-growing companies in the U.S. Less well known is evidence of serious side-effects like seizures, strokes, symptoms of multiple sclerosis, chest pain, tremors & fainting. Over 1,000 adverse reactions to Prevagen have been reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between May 2008 and December 2011, during which time the company only investigated or reported two events. The FDA issued a warning letter to Quincy Bioscience in October 2012, but has yet to take any additional action, likely due to the fact that dietary supplements are subject to much less regulatory oversight than drugs. Unlike drugs, dietary supplements are not subject to premarket approval; the manufacturer must only notify the FDA of their public sale and marketing claims.
Therefore, if you use supplements, you should pay heed to the following statements from the FDA:
Federal law does not require dietary supplements to be proven safe to FDA's satisfaction before they are marketed.
For most claims made in the labeling of dietary supplements, the law does not require the manufacturer or seller to prove to FDA's satisfaction that the claim is accurate or truthful before it appears on the product.
Most experts feel these supplements should be marketed and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as drugs. As a drug, companies must perform studies to show both effectiveness and safety, follow drug labeling and marketing regulations, and publicly report adverse drug reactions. If you have an adverse experience to report, or a complaint about a supplement, be sure to make a report to the FDA.
