In 2013, dietary supplement products are not regulated or screened by the U.S. Government’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means dietary supplement manufacturers can market and sell their products to the consumer marketplace without first having to prove the efficacy.
Furthermore, there are more than 54,000 dietary supplement products (pill, liquid and powder formulations) listed in the Natural medicines Comprehensive Database and only thirty-three percent (33%) have some level of scientific “endorsement” for their effectiveness. Approximately, twelve percent (12%) have been singled out or red-flagged for safety issues, with safety being a critical concern.
This low level of FDA oversight can potentially translate into inadequate quality control of the dietary supplement product manufacturers and the industry they represent. As more than fifty-percent (50%) of American’s (and to a large degree the older adult community at-large) take dietary supplements on a fairly regular basis, this may cause more harm than good for people who look to these supplements to keep them healthy. As a result, these supplements (not all mind you) across the board, may contain too much or too little active ingredient, and may also be contaminated.
TALK TO YOUR PHYSICIAN
If you are currently, or have recently stopped, taking dietary supplement products, you should inform your physician. This is even more important if the user takes other medications. It is possible for the dietary supplements to interact with your conventional drug medications in a negative manner (i.e. side effects). avoid taking the following dietary supplements as being identified by the Consumers Union (CU) as being linked to case and/or clinical reports to serious side effects:
Aconite; Bitter Orange; Chaparral; Colloidal Silver; Coltsfoot; Comfrey; Country Mallow; Germanium; Greater Celandine; Kava; Lobelia; and Yohimbe.
Always consult or inform your physician and pharmacist regarding any prescription drug medication, over the counter medication or dietary supplement product you may be currently or thinking of taking in the near future. We also suggest you consider scheduling an annual wellness appointment with your primary physician or local health care provider to review and manage your medications.
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