In general, dietary supplements are supposed to be safe and fit for human consumption. In practice, however, some supplements can have negative side effects and pose health risks. Always evaluate each dietary supplement you're considering by comparing it against the FDA's current warnings and recalls, and consult your physician for medical advice.
Dietary Supplements
A dietary supplement is, under federal law, categorized as a food and thus is not subject to the testing process that medication and the drugs must go through before getting approved by the Food and Drug Administration. In fact, the FDA does not have to approve any dietary supplement before a manufacturer can legally sell it. Under the terms of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, it is up to individual manufacturers to determine if a product is safe.
FDA's Power and Warnings
While a manufacturer does not need FDA approval to sell a dietary supplement, the FDA can restrict or remove a product if it finds the product to be unsafe. The FDA maintains a list of recalls and other actions it has taken against unsafe or risky dietary supplements that you can view by going to the FDA's website. The FDA does not keep a list of supplements or supplement manufacturers, but does issue press releases and maintain a list of all products that have been found to be unsafe.
Unhealthy Ingredients
According to a May, 2010 congressional investigation, many dietary herbal supplements contain minute amounts of angerous and even toxic materials, such as lead, mercury and other heavy metals, according to the New York Times. The amount of these ingredients in the supplements was not enough to exceed unsafe levels, but they were present in nearly all supplements tested. Further, many supplements also had unacceptable levels of pesticide residue.
Legislative Chagnes
The dietary supplement industry is highly dependent upon federal laws and regulations, which change over time. As of May 21, 2011, for example, the senate passed the Food Safety Accountability Act of 2011 and referred the bill to the House subcommittee, according to The Library of Congress. The bill would in part impose new restrictions on food importers as well as provides criminal penalties for manufacturers who knowingly sell adulterated products.
References
- U. S. Food and Drug Administration: Overview of Dietary Supplements
- U. S. Food and Drug Administration: Dietary Supplement Alerts and Safety Information
- US News: Many Supplements Said to Contain Toxins, Make False Health Claims; May 26th, 2010
- Library of Congress: Bill Summary & Status 112th Congress (2011 - 2012) S.216
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