The Idea Many health claims have been debunked over the years. Do you recall Garcenia Cambrogia (GC) that Dr. Oz pushed as a weight loss miracle? Well it wasn’t shown to be effective. Weight loss product Hydroxycut, which contained GC, was taken off the market due to causing health issues only to be later introduced without the GC. It gets scarier. Kids are also victims of false claims. Researchers used the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System for food and supplements to assess severe medical risks in kids and young adults ages 0-25. They concluded the following, “Consumption of dietary supplements sold for weight loss, muscle building, and energy involved increased risks for severe medical events compared with vitamins. Proactive enforcement of regulations is needed to reduce access and consumption among children, adolescents, and young adults.” This is a multibillion-dollar industry, so there will always be people willing to lie for profit and they do not care who is harmed by their product. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) websites contain lists of companies they have gone after. Unfortunately, they can’t get them all due to legal shortcomings and lack of resources. There are similar agencies in other countries. Since I am in the US, that is the context in which I will right as it the context I know the most about. Example Regulatory Actions Image: Food and Drug Administration at FDA.gov Food and Drug Administration The FDA has a searchable database of companies who have been reprimanded for their misbehavior. Here are a few recent ones related to health.
The FTC also reprimands companies for false claims. Here are a few examples.
The findings in these cases are positive. My concern is the penalties are not sufficient to deter more bad actors from taking advantage of our system which does not require ALL health supplements be federally approved prior to sells. The Big Picture Image: Federal Trade Commission FTC.gov Government Agencies Government agencies like the FTC and FDA develop and enforce various procedures for companies to comply with relative to health-related products. These agencies are in place for our safety. Another government agency, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), houses the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). This site has information for consumers such as the supplement fact sheets and health information. The information is in English and Spanish. Some web browsers can convert texts to many other languages. Unfortunately, Congress has not made ALL supplements subject to the same standards as drugs. Thus, ODS is a good place to start when considering supplements. ODS provides information about a myriad of supplements. They recommend looking for seals of quality from one of the following independent labs: U.S. Pharmacopeia, NSF International, and ConsumerLab.com. These labs work with governments, Non-Governmental Organizations, researchers, and the academic community to complete their work. Independent Labs U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) is a standards agency that is legally recognized in more than 140 countries. USP’s procedures are designed to improve health via global standards of quality, safety, and efficacy of products using the best available science. They collaborate with academic, professional, and government agencies in various countries. NSF International (NSFI) is a standards lab that addresses safety in many areas such as automotive, building products, food safety, and yes…health products. NSFI is also active on the world stage by engaging with the World Health Organization (WHO) and having offices on every world region. They also collaborate with academic, professional, and government agencies in various countries. ConsumerLab.com (CL) is a US-based company, but the information can be useful globally. CL is a good place to visit before taking a supplement. They place product reviews and warnings front and center on their website. Another element that I like about CL is they freely publish the testing methods and quality standards (I love transparency). United Labs (UL) is a new to the supplement testing business. UL is best known for its industry testing and certification. They have begun testing supplements to ascertain if they meet US, Japanese, and European standards. They operate in countries around the world. Again, they collaborate with academic, professional, and government agencies in various countries. Safety and Efficacy Promotion Strategy Image: Office of Dietary Supplements at ODS.od.nih.gov Consumers and Health Professionals While government agencies and independent labs are important to keep us safe and healthy, consumers must drive these issues. Consumers should consult the resources I have provided before using supplements, recommending supplements, or spreading health claims. In the end, if a product does not sell it will be a waste of resources for the company. Consumers should report issues of harm and lack of health benefits claimed to the FTC and FDA. Again, this will disrupt bad actors’ sells and cost them money to respond to complaints. In sum, consumers can help control bad actors by being vigilant and reporting them to authorities, not spreading false claims, and by voicing their disapproval with their money. Also, consumers should spread the word on social media if a product harms them or does not live up to its claims. Health and fitness professionals must not add to the problem of harm caused by some supplements (physical harm, financial loss, time loss, and emotional harm) by also driving safety and efficacy issues. They should be versed in what is legitimate and what is not. When they do not know the efficacy of a supplement, they should not recommend it. Professionals should report supplements that harm or do not work to the FTC and FDA. They should also post to social media. Consumers should avoid professionals who do not demonstrate knowledge of research, seals of approval, or government-related efficacy and safety information concerning supplements. Ultimately, consumers and health professionals must beware and be vigilant. Consumers make supplement choices primarily by following the recommendation of someone they know and trust. Professionals should not take our trust lightly. If consumers and health professionals take the time to research supplements and dissect false advertisements they can be THE driving forces in reducing the harm (physical harm, financial loss, time loss, and emotional harm) caused by some supplements and unscrupulous business people. Corporations, Governments and Consumers Corporations should act as stewards of health versus vultures of our money. They should voluntarily provide quality supplements and show the research that supports their claims. They should display seals of approval that confirm their safety and health claims. Consumers should not purchase supplements when a company does not make research readily available for independent review and/or lacks a seal of approval or government agency support. US Congress, and government officials around the world, should strengthen laws by requiring government approval of all supplements and increasing the severity of sanctions for violators. Consumers should use their vote (political and money) to voice their position on public safety and efficacy expectations. How Does This Apply to the Homeostatic Lifestyle?
About The Author Dr. Gerald Martin
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AuthorGerald Martin is a doctor of Exercise and Sport Science, and Certified Health Coach via the American Council on Exercise. Archives
July 2019
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