It is just an over-the-counter supplement - it must be safe

Many of us take dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other products to boost our health. Since many supplements contain natural ingredients, it’s easy to assume they are always safe. But “natural” does not always mean safe, especially when combined with medications. Nor does it always mean effective.

Let’s get the “effective” part out of the way first. A law passed by Congress in 1994 restricts the FDA from reviewing dietary supplements before marketing as they do with prescription medications. Most of the claims made by the manufacturers about the benefits of their product have no basis in fact.

If these products were simply useless, you would only be wasting your money, but they are far from guaranteed safe.

Some products have been banned by the FDA after being on the market for extended periods when their side-effects were found to be very dangerous but may still be available by mail-order. These would include ephedra (Ma Huang) and DMAA, used for weight loss and energy, that cause high blood pressure and strokes.

Some are discouraged but still sold. Kava, easily available online, is used for anxiety but can cause severe liver damage. Yohimbe is used for erectile dysfunction and bodybuilding; it can cause high blood pressure, kidney failure and heart problems.

Colloidal silver is claimed to have immune support and anti-bacterial properties but can leave your skin permanently discolored.

Fat-soluble vitamins (A, E, D and K) are not easily removed from the body. While they are safe in low doses, high doses of Vitamin A can damage the liver, as several Texas families following RFK Jr’s advice discovered. High does of Vitamin D can dangerously raise your blood calcium.

Finally, some supplements can interact with prescription medicines you may be taking. St John’s Wort causes a more rapid breakdown of many medications so that they lose their effectiveness. These include birth control pills and anti-depressants.

Calcium supplements interfere with the absorption of many medications, causing them to be less effective. Green tea extracts (but not the amount in a cup of tea) affect the breakdown of many medications.

Finally, there is the serious concern that many supplements are adulterated with inactive and/or toxic ingredients. The under-staffed FDA is unlikely to ride herd on these products unless there is a mass poisoning event that commands their attention.

What should you do?

In general, don’t waste your money. Beyond a daily multivitamin, most OTC supplements are useless.

If you wish to take a supplement, buy it at a legitimate pharmacy or health food store that will be there if there are problems. Look for independent lab testing by the USP (U.S. Pharmacopeia) or NSF (National Science Foundation).

If you are taking prescription medications, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions before you start taking any supplements.


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