Are you among the estimated 40 percent of Americans that use herbal or dietary supplements for weight loss and other health reasons ? If so, you may be risking the health of your liver.
A just-released study showed an association between supplements and liver injury. According to the National Institutes of Health, supplements account for 18 percent of liver damage in the U.S. Those commonly taken for body-building or weight loss were most likely to cause harm. Several people in the study actually needed liver transplants due to the severity of the damage.
While these results are still preliminary, researchers said that it points to the need for a large-scale investigation and possibly even regulation of supplements by the Food and Drug Administration.
That’s right — in most cases, the safety of dietary supplements bought over-the-counter in health food stores, pharmacies, and other retailers are based only on the manufacturer’s say-so. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements, and only reviews any new ingredient for safety.
The FDA website states:
“Manufacturers are required to produce dietary supplements to minimum quality standards and ensure that they do not contain contaminants or impurities, and are accurately labeled.”
Claims about effectiveness are essentially left up to the companies and their marketing departments, as long as they avoid claims about curing or treating diseases. Yet, the FDA also admits that there are risks to taking supplements.
“Many supplements contain active ingredients that have strong biological effects in the body. This could make them unsafe in some situations and hurt or complicate your health. For example, the following actions could lead to harmful — even life-threatening — consequences.”
Anyone can walk into a health food store, or a Walmart or Target and pick up a dietary supplement to address nearly any health issue. However, many of us are not aware of the potential pitfalls — for example, supplements can cause chemical reactions with other medications you are taking and render them ineffective.
Some people substitute over the counter supplements for prescription medications; perhaps they think it’s a more “natural” alternative or it costs less. Not true. And some people may think that if one or two supplements a day are good for you, doubling the suggested dose must be even better.
Definitely wrong. Taking too much of certain supplements, especially Vitamins A, D, E, or K or certain minerals like iron, can lead to health problems. They store up in your body and reach toxic levels pretty quickly. This can lead to liver damage, tissue calcification, gastrointestinal distress, or even organ failure.
The evidence is clear that some dietary supplements, if taken in too high doses, or for too long, lead to some serious negative health effects. Right now, all the FDA can do is provide a toll-free number for reports of suspected supplement-related health problems. They can only take products off the market if they’re proven to be unsafe or contain misleading claims. This is where the “barn door” cliché comes in. Only after people to get sick can something be done.
Why?
In 2010 Consumer Reports did an extensive investigation into dietary supplements and potential harm. They called on Congress to gradually increase the FDA’s regulatory power on the industry. That has yet to occur.
In the meantime, if you do take dietary supplements, check out this guide from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research any supplements you take, or plan to take, and be sure to speak with your health provider or a nutritionist about what is considered “safe.” The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements also has a wealth of information available – including a mobile app.
Especially important is investigating any potential drug interactions – for example, St. John’s Wort, commonly used for anxiety or depression, can interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills. And bitter orange contains chemicals that increase heart rate and blood pressure.
Supplements can be greatly beneficial for many individuals who are deficient due to diet or other reasons. There are also many safe, natural remedies that provide effective alternatives to some prescription medication. However, do some homework and discuss your options with a professional before you make that trip to the health food store. Your body will thank you.
Click here to see more articles on MeaningfulWomen.com by Liz Seegert.
Liz Seegert is a freelance journalist in New York City who writes and blogs on health, social policy, and other issues impacting human welfare. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Center for Health, Media & Policy at Hunter College. You can follow Liz on Twitter (@lseegert).
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