How Dangerous Are Dietary Supplements?
Millions of people take dietary supplements every day. The goal of supplements is to provide important vitamins and nutrients that the user doesn’t receive through his or her daily diet, such as amino acids, minerals, enzymes and other elements. Supplements can be helpful to consumers, but they may come at a price.
Consumers might be putting too much trust in daily supplements. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns consumers of the potential health risks that could come with taking dietary supplements – risks that could result in injuries, fatalities, and lawsuits against the product’s manufacturer. Learn more before taking your next dose to prevent possible bad reactions.
What’s Dangerous About Supplements?
Supplements such as calcium, fish oil, Vitamin D, St. John’s Wort, Ginkgo, and Ginseng generally do not come with endorsements or approval from the FDA. That means it is solely the manufacturer’s responsibility to make sure they are safe for consumers before putting them on the market. The FDA will review ingredients for safety but it will not approve them for use in supplements or state anything about their effectiveness. When you take dietary supplements, therefore, you run the risk of taking an unsafe product.
Dietary supplements are in an entirely different category than drugs and medications. Unlike medicines, manufacturers cannot legally advertise dietary supplements as preventing, treating, or diagnosing diseases. This means that no legal supplement should make promises such as “Cure your heart disease!” or “Lowers high cholesterol.” These are illegitimate claims that likely serve only one purpose: to increase sales. If you see supplements with such claims, keep shopping.
Contrary to what most people believe, dietary supplements aren’t harmless. It is possible to take some with active ingredients that harm your body or mind. Supplements can have adverse reactions with other drugs or supplements you’re taking, resulting in serious health complications. They can also cause harm when used instead of prescription drugs. It is also possible to overdose on dietary supplements. “Too much of a good thing” in supplements could result in health problems; especially before or after surgeries. Taking supplements without creating a careful health plan could be dangerous.
How to Avoid Supplement Health Hazards
It is possible to protect yourself from potential harms relating to rogue dietary supplements. One of the ways to do so is to always check for the FDA seal of approval before purchase. Many well-established and thoroughly researched dietary supplements exist, with ingredients that have the FDA’s approval as something that’s safe for consumers. Without the FDA’s approval, you can’t be sure that what you’re taking has ingredients that are actually good for your health – or safe to consume.
Most importantly, always talk to your doctor about supplements before taking them. Your healthcare provider can help you achieve your goals according to your unique physical needs, balancing your diet and exercise with appropriate supplements. Talking to a doctor first can help protect you from taking tablets, capsules, powders, or liquids you don’t actually need – or that can worsen your health rather than improve it. A doctor can help you choose the exact supplements and dosages you might need, as well as prevent overdoses and adverse drug reactions.
Finally, report problems you experience with supplements to the FDA. If you or someone you love suffers a serious adverse reaction to a dietary supplement (even if you aren’t sure if the supplement caused it), notify the FDA and contact your health provider. Filing a consumer complaint online or through a local Consumer Complaint Coordinator could prevent others from suffering the same harm, as well as start the process toward bringing a claim against the supplement’s manufacturer, if applicable. When it comes to taking dietary supplements, put your safety first.