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Written by Dusty Beddoe | You’re probably aware of the various health claims made by supplement manufacturers attempting to justify their high prices, but are you aware that supplements don’t have to prove their safety or effectiveness before they hit the market? That’s right, most shoppers assume the countless supplements lining the shelves of retailers like GNC are good for you — or at the very least, not harmful. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Read on to learn about the risks you need to understand before choosing your next dietary supplement.
1. Poor Regulations & Health Risks
We can’t rely on legal restrictions to ensure the safety of dietary supplements. Because supplements are allowed to enter the marketplace without demonstrating safety or efficacy, it’s relatively easy for potentially fatal supplements to be sold, even after the FDA becomes aware of safety concerns.
This happened recently with pre-workout supplements, like Jack3d and OxyElite Pro, manufactured by USPlabs. Both supplements contained dimethylamylamine (DMAA), an amphetamine derivative, often promoted as a natural stimulant, but regarded by the FDA as an illegal non-dietary ingredient.
The FDA has received reports of five deaths and more than eighty other adverse events involving DMAA. Despite obvious health risks, it took two years for them to compel USPlabs, the last of the 11 known manufacturers of supplements containing DMAA, to discontinue their products.
Even more unsettling, the FDA doesn’t have a comprehensive list of all manufacturers that use DMAA in their supplements. In all likelihood, unknown manufacturers continue to produce supplements with DMAA.
Sketchy illegal ingredients aren’t the only risks associated with supplements. The supplement industry is built upon the antiquated idea that more is better. However, the most recent research indicates that, unless you have a diagnosed deficiency, supplements are more likely to harm than help. This is the case with calcium, one of the most popular supplements. New evidence links calcium to increased risk of heart attack, but it has failed to reliably demonstrate any benefit.
2. Irresponsible Vendors
We can’t rely on the good conscience of manufacturers or retailers to remove potentially harmful products from shelves. Supplement retail is a multi-billion dollar industry, and those that profit from supplements have shown they’re unwilling to forfeit potential revenue unless forced to do so.
3. Unproven Efficacy
Supplements don’t have to prove they work, yet they make countless unsubstantiated claims. Don’t be fooled by clever marketing and vague statements, like “significant boost.” If a product boasts a substantial number of general health benefits, it’s probably because it can’t make any specific claims supported by objective evidence. With few exceptions, there is no reliable proof that dietary supplements offer any benefits.
4. High Cost
If you’re not dissuaded by health risks and dubious results, consider the cost. Do you really want to pay an average of $30 per bottle for an unknown substance that could harm you and offers nothing more than a placebo effect?
The intelligent decision is to get your nutrients from food and stay away from unregulated dietary supplements. A balanced diet is the safest and most effective way to achieve optimal health from nutrients. Though it may be slightly more expensive than fast food, it’s certainly more cost effective than “nutritional” supplements.