BBB Tip of the Week
Many people are taking their health seriously, actively seeking better ways to take care of themselves and their loved ones. So it is no surprise that many would check out dietary supplements. Taking vitamins and minerals as part of a daily regimen is fairly common. However, supplements are regulated differently by the FDA than food and prescription drugs and don’t require FDA approval before producing or selling.
Some supplements may claim to improve memory or cure serious diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and Alzheimer’s. However, they don’t meet their claims and are a waste of money. That’s the good news. The bad news is that they can be harmful to your health.
Dietary supplements claiming incredible weight loss, body building or sexual endurance can have harmful chemicals and even illegal drugs as hidden ingredients. Ingredients not listed on the label can have serious side effects on your health. They can also interact negatively with your medications or other supplements you’re taking.
Consumers taking dietary supplements have suffered strokes, acute liver injury, kidney failure, brain damage and pulmonary embolisms. Some have even died.
The Better Business Bureau cautions you to be extremely suspicious of misleading claims on supplement packaging and in advertisements. These claims are red flags that the supplement is fraudulent: “quick fix,” “all-natural,” “miracle cure,” “scientific breakthrough,” “secret ingredient,” “lose weight without diet or exercise,” and claims that “the pharmaceutical industry (government) wants to hide information about this miracle cure.”
The BBB offers the following information to consider when thinking about taking supplements:
• Supplements can reduce or increase the effect of your prescription or over-the-counter medications and could interact negatively with medication or a medical condition.
• Check with your doctor or other health care professional before buying and taking a dietary supplement, even common ones.
• Never give supplements to children unless through a doctor’s supervision. A child’s metabolism is unique and changes at different ages.
Check out two videos from the FDA: “Health Fraud Scams – Be Smart, Be Aware, Be Careful” at https://youtu.be/KsPlwKbGxE8 and “Don’t Get Scammed: Beware of Health Fraud” at https://youtu.be/XQ7SB2772Iw.
To report adverse reactions to supplements, call the FDA’s Consumer Complaint Coordinator in Washington at (800) 353-3965 or visit http://www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov/.
For scam alerts, visit the BBB Scam Alerts Web page: http://go.bbb.org/1vtoqmO or call (509) 455-4200.
By Erin T. Dodge, BBB editor