US Dietary Supplements Not As Safe As Consumers Might Assume

[HuckleB]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/196787.php

"More than half of adult Americans take dietary supplements in the belief they will keep them healthy, help them lose weight, or increase vitality and drive, but according to Consumer Reports, they may not realize there is no obligation for manufacturers to show they are safe and effective, and in their latest report they reveal 12 ingredients that consumers should avoid because they have been linked to health risks, including cardiovascular, liver, and kidney problems.

In their September 2010 report published on Tuesday, the consumer magazine describes how the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has little power to regulate dietary supplements under the "industry-friendly" 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), and where it does have power, it hardly ever uses it.

The report says that of the 54,000 and more dietary supplement products listed in the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, only about a third have any scientific evidence to support some level of safety and effectiveness.

The consumer magazine's report identifies 12 supplements, which they refer to as the "dirty dozen", that are readily available in stores and online, but that they think consumers should avoid because of health risks to heart, liver and kidneys. The following list summarizes their information:

..."


--------------------------------------------


We have a huge problem with the lack of regulation in the supplement industry.

Note: Crying "Big Pharma!" does not make this problem go away, and it is not a solution to this problem.

It's time for Congress to act.

[denverbill]

1. Perfect! I'm getting an ad for AllVitaminsPlus.com on this post:).

[Oregone]

2. Yeah, there is a large problem, but a knee-jerkin response will clusterfuck things

And I will put out there that in the last 10 years, there has been drastic reform in the actual industry due to FDA pressure; within the last 3 years, many retailers and manufacturers have gone to great lengths to become compliant. Ive seen a bit of the behind-the-scenes on this (and we are getting to the point where distributors and retailers are rejecting manufacturers who are stepping over the lines and endangering their businesses)

The DSHEA allows a lot of freedom, and unfortunately, that freedom has been abused. I think there should be some sort of federal approval process for label claims on each bottle (rather than industry compliance subject to retroactive fines). But the challenge is finding a method to do this that will not limit people's choice of safe supplements. Clearly, there are lobbies involved here that want to do just that

Finding a middle ground to promote healthy choices here is the key. This is a challenge when one extreme wants to be unfettered for profit, and another extreme wants Draconian legislation to kill choice and promote their profits (pharma).

[HuckleB]

5. The proposals that have been before Congress were anything but knee-jerk.

So I'm not buying that as a reason to refrain from making changes. Too many stories about problems have continued to develop the past few years, and too many scam artists are using the current laws to push parents into believing they have cures for things like autism. The status quo is not working.

[Oregone]

7. Ive made it clear I'm not a fan of the status quo

I think changes need to be made, but carefully. OTOH, I'm not completely certain things are as bad now as the number of claims state. 10 years ago, this industry was the wild west. People were selling steroidal "natural" substances through loopholes, because they appeared in nature (they cited studies that showed the presence of these metabolites in cow manure after a cow was fed illicit anabolic substances).

Since then, there has been immense FDA intervention and those products are a thing of the past. Raids have made it abundantly clear that gray area products will not be tolerated and FDA regs must be followed. I don't think retailers and distributors are on the sides of these types of manufacturers anymore. Unfortunately, this has placed a major burden on retailers to all individually police their inventory (instead of relying on some type of FDA seal of compliance that doesn't exist). I believe Canada has some type of a system where every single product label must be approved, and all claims have to have evidence (and they are then issued a number by the government). Its not a bad idea.

[HuckleB]

8. Sorry, I don't buy it.

Since the industry pushed a wholehearted, ludicrous campaign against common-sense legislation, I don't see why it should be trusted, or how it can be said that the industry isn't on the side of a "few" bad apples.

[Oregone]

9. Thats up to you

I have some first hand anecdotes from clients. Ive written many programs involved with FDA compliance personally (involved with locating and identifying gray label products). My clients have hired handfuls of people and devoted many man hours to this issue. Ive seen the lines drawn in the sand and heavy proactive steps being taken by major players.


Some people out there would actually love "common-sense" legislation, because it levels the playing field for the companies that are doing it correctly right now. Currently, some companies have double the staff to handle these problems, and carry far less inventory then they used to (costing them money, and hurting their competitiveness)


Right now, the FDA is firing shots across the bow and targeting a few large retailers to make examples for the industry to see. For many of those under the scrutiny and pressure, they have reacted according, been pro-active, and wouldn't mind a bit of a break (IOW, wouldn't mind if this issue was shifted from them to the actually manufacturers by creating a screening process they didn't personally have to waste money on)


I'm just telling you what Ive seen. More or less, Ive been wrapped up in this industry since college unfortunately (not by my own choice)


Likewise, Ive also been involved (just on the technical side) with an anti-reform lobby, but support for that movement fizzled before my eyes. Everyone in the industry sees the double-edge sword, and they begin to realize that the action of the asshole next to them is jeopardizing their livelihood. People aren't stupid.


Ive been around...its easy when you have a few skills in a cutthroat industry selling snake-skin oil (there were no other job prospects). Ive seen the good, the bad and the ugly in this industry, all the way up to the top. Lately, there is more good than previously. Just my two cents. Buy it or not.

[HuckleB]

15. Shots at the bow is a great way to describe it.

That's as much as we can get from the FDA, as things stand.

Regulation is needed.

[Mz Pip]

3. Most of that stuff I've never heard of.

Just because you can find it in a health food store and don't need a prescription for it doean't mean it is safe or non toxic.

[grasswire]

4. yeah, that's a scary list n/t

[Oregone]

6. Even if its safe and well-known, its source can be a concern

Some of these raws come from dirty labs overseas before being sent to encapsulators in the states.

[damntexdem]

10. The entire U.S. diet is not as safe as we may assume.

[Celebration]

12. Exactly

Probably more harm done by contamination in food. The FDA is spread very thin and really needs to spend their resources approving drugs manufactured overseas so that we can reimport drugs, saving money. Like, that is going to happen.:rofl:

[HuckleB]

13. That may be, but you are offering a red herring.

Why?

[Celebration]

19. The FDA is understaffed now

If they can't even wrap their heads around reimportation of drugs, and cannot assure a safe food supply, why add another burden to them, when the risk of getting killed by some vitamin is so much smaller than getting e coli???

[HuckleB]

20. Thanks for yet another red herring.

Further, under the current system you appear to be dramatically underestimating the risks:

Vitamin supplements may increase risk of death
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/apr/16/medicalresearch

Death by supplements
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2008/03/death_by_supplements.php

In any logical world, regulation is needed. End of story.

[HuckleB]

21. The GAO Report on Supplement Regulation

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=404

[Celebration]

22. The GAO report is okay with me

But you linked to something criticizing it.

[HuckleB]

23. Yes, I did. Something that addressed some very serious problems with the report.

You can ignore those problems, but that doesn't make them go away.

I very much doubt that you agree with the GAO report, either.

In fact, I doubt that you've actually read it.

[NickB79]

39. So bring staffing levesl at the FDA up to par

If there are multiple hazards to the US food and drug supply, the logical course of action is to call for more staff, not less testing and oversight.

[peacetalksforall]

11. I would absolutely only buy from health food stores, especially food co-ops.

They don't have a football size store or miles of aisles. They don't buy from suppliers who don't give them the best profit - example - stories we know about Wal-Mart.

These smaller stores really research who they carry. I've heard stories about how some buyers really check out the company they sell, the supplies, the processing. Their purpose is health, not widget profit.

For myself, I would never buy at a sports store. Their purpose is pumping up - found to not always be healthy.

From what I've said, it is predictable that I don't buy at giant stores, chain stores, and even common and upscale grocery stores.

So - which one is targeted by the information in the article? We don't know. A person could agree with the article, but I place unequivocal trust in the co-ops I buy from.

[HuckleB]

14. Unfortunately, you can't trust any store with our current lack of regulation.

[peacetalksforall]

16. I believe in self-regulation - it works with well intentioned people - if we're talking.

regular diet supplements like vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, it narrows the risk.

Yes to self-regulation.

I don't think the Wal-Marts, Walgreens, regular grocery stores care - they just don't want to face lawsuits - bottom line concerns only - theirs.

[HuckleB]

17. It hasn't worked.

And that has nothing to do with the companies you mention.

[peacetalksforall]

24. I trust co-ops. Should I say sorry? Maybe you don't know how serious

a group of workers and members can be. Distinctions are essential. Night and day - Wal-Mart and a co-op.

[Tumbulu]

27. I agree, I only buy from my coop as well

and as I have friends who produce for various herbal supplement companies, the testing is vigorous and many of them apply the European standards on their US products as well.

But I would never buy from some cheap brand sold at a Walmart or Costco or even Trader Joe's for that matter, unless it was a brand that I trusted already.

[HuckleB]

28. They may be serious, and different than WM, but they're just as likely to be as gullible as you are.

Most co-ops I know sell homeopathy, for example. Most of them sell the products on that list in the article as dangerous. There is no evidence that those items are less dangerous when purchased at a co-op vs. Wal Mart.

In other words, if you think a co-op is going to save you from an unregulated industry, you are fooling yourself.

I've shopped at a couple of co-ops for years. The employees are very nice. That doesn't mean they understand the dangers and the scams behind the supplements they sell.

[Tumbulu]

33. Well I took a look at the shelves of supplements at my coop

yesterday and found not one of the items listed.

And there are three small aisles.

Homeopathic remedies have never been deemed toxic- your opinion of their uselessness is commonly held by many on this site, but toxic?

I would like to see regulation of the supplement industry, but have always presumed that they have to have the normal food standards (certified kitchen prep, etc), truth in labeling, etc.

[Odin2005]

18. LOL, you think they aren't out to make a quick buck from your gullility?

[peacetalksforall]

25. See my #24.

[Odin2005]

26. Oops, my bad! I didn't see the co-op part!

:blush:

[HuckleB]

29. SInce most co-ops are open to the general public, at higher prices.

Why blush?

[NickB79]

40. Even vitamins can be dangerous if not properly regulated

As I recall, there was a story posted here in the past month or so about a big Vitamin D proponent sickened by his own line of Vitamin D supplements because the IU listing was horribly off and received a much higher dose than he thought he was getting. Good intentions are no substitute for proper quality testing and basic regulations.

On edit: Found it! http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x86372

[BuddhaGirl]

30. this article is fear mongering

Kava, for example, is safe unless one takes HUGE amounts. I use kava pretty regularly, with no adverse effects.

What are the numbers of people who end up in the hospital from supplements vs. those who end up in the hospital from from pharmaceutical drugs?

Needless fear mongering.

[HuckleB]

31. No, it's not.

You just don't like it when the scams you promote are pointed out for what they really are.

Sorry to burst your bubble again!

[BuddhaGirl]

32. not bursting my bubble LOL

it's fear mongering, pure and simple.

You see them as a scam, so don't take them. :eyes:

[HuckleB]

35. Your bubble has been burst repeatedly.

Denial doesn't change that. Your total lack of evidence for the scams you support certainly will not change that.

Your label of this very necessary piece as "fear mongering" doesn't change that. In fact, it's your baseless labeling that is true fear mongering, just like the ridiculous fear mongering by the supplement scam artists that have kept common sense legislation for regulation from being developed.

It is a scam, and it's everyone's duty to acknowledge that reality.

[BuddhaGirl]

41. only in your world is my bubble "burst" LOL

And it's my duty to share positive information about supplements and natural health. That way some of the fear mongering can be countered :-)

Many, many people have positive experiences with supplements - it's great to hear the good results that people have. :thumbsup:

[HuckleB]

42. Only in the real world, you mean.

Your fantasies don't count.

[BuddhaGirl]

43. everybody's world is the *real* world

and fantasy exists in everybody's world, including yours :toast:

[HuckleB]

44. That may be true.

On matters of health care, you repeatedly offer fantasy, however.

Cheers!

[BuddhaGirl]

45. health care is a personal issue, as I'm sure you can agree

some see fantasy where others see reality. cheers :-)

[HuckleB]

46. That's a nice marketing theme you've offered there.

What I'm proposing is educating people and offering regulation that stops the scam artists from convincing the gullible with their card tricks.

[flamingdem]

34. I've been angry for years at the new age/health food/supplements hucksters

There are many good products sold and good practitioners but for the most part I wasted money until I realized that these people are just as ruthless as their corporate counterparts.

Many push things using FEAR, and many vulnerable people are hurt ... at a minimum they lose $.

That said I think it's more important to have forums to counter them rather than push them out of business with regulation.

But who is there to help a person who gets caught up and starts getting colonics, taking coloidal silver, going on liquid diets, taking DHEA, oddball cancer treatments, etc ... they are doing these things out of fear for their health and they can be prayed upon easily.

[HuckleB]

36. If the 4th Estate did its job, regulation might not be necessary.

Instead, the press does a good job promoting these scams.

[flamingdem]

38. true that! Advertising revenue etc. nt

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.