Are Dietary Supplements Safe? Just Because They're Called "Natural" Does Not Mean They Are Safe

Summer is over; the kids are back in school; vacations have become
memories; and more and more folks turn their attention to the task of
"dropping those few extra pounds" before the holidays. It is such a
widespread phenomenon that the weight loss industry refers to it as,
"the winter diet season." Especially during these months, many
well-intentioned (but misguided) individuals opt for what they think
are "safe and natural" methods that will accelerate weight loss with
minimal habit change.Recently, Abbott Laboratories, manufacturer of
Meridia, opted to pull the diet drug from the market after failing to
win the approval of a safety advisory panel affiliated with the US
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The latter requested that Abbott
withdraw the drug; they complied. At the same time, the FDA warned
consumers against a dietary supplement - Slimming Beauty Bitter Orange
Slimming Capsules- due to its active ingredient, Sibutramine, (found
in Meridia).For perspective, the FDA approved Sibutramine in 1997 for
obesity management, including weight loss and maintenance of weight
loss (which - I point out - they said should be combined with diet and
exercise). Twelve years later, a major study found that patients with
a history of cardiovascular disease who took such medications had an
elevated risk of heart attacks and stroke, as well as uneven heartbeat
and shortness of breath.What's particularly troubling is that a recent
report shows that many supplements, which bill themselves as
"natural," are actually laden with laboratory drugs - including some
illegal ones.Researchers in Hong Kong analyzed 81 weight-loss products
taken by patients who came in to the hospital for treatment for
poisoning (one of which had died). They discovered two or more
pharmaceutical agents in 61 of the supplements, and two supplements
contained six drugs. The authors caution their findings should not be
interpreted as a full analysis of the weight-loss supplement market;
yet, it bears noting that in the good ole U.S. of A., approximately
$34 billion is spent annually on alternative medicine, including
supplements. This equates to about $110 per man, woman, and child per
year. Many of these products, sometimes called "botanical supplements"
or "herbal remedies," are not well studied according to research
published in Chemical & Engineering News. In some cases, they note,
the ingredients could even be dangerous.Within the last two years, the
FDA has alerted consumers about 72 weight-loss supplements containing
such undeclared drugs. In addition to the above-referenced
Sibutramine, they found Fluoxetine, an antidepressant best known as
Prozac. More disturbingly, a number of them contained banned drugs;
including the laxative phenolphthalein, which was outlawed because of
an association with cancer. More notoriously, the appetite suppressant
Fenfluramine was found in several supplements. As a refresher,
Fenfluramine was the "fen" in the Fen-phen diet pill, which was pulled
from the U.S. in 1997 for its association with heart attacks.Herbs,
vitamins, or natural supplements can be excellent additions to
increase one's health. However, it's urgent to remember that "health"
is always the top objective, and the most "natural" way to enhance
that is to move a little more and eat a little less. It might not be
quick, but there are very few side effects.