The dietary supplement may be contaminated with ...metals, or even ... prescription drugs
Okay, if that's the case, the worst of the offending supplements should already be in violation of existing laws. It just can't be legal for a supplement formulation to include prescription drugs.
Are existing laws being enforced when these problems come to light?
I'd just like to see some standards imposed, so if I buy a particular supplement I have some assurance that it contains the ingredients I expect, in the amount that I expect. As it is, what's on the label may not reflect what's in the bottle. As NIH researchers note,
- An herbal supplement may not contain the correct plant species.
- The amount of the active ingredient may be lower or higher than the label states. That means you may be taking less—or more—of the dietary supplement than you realize.
- The dietary supplement may be contaminated with other herbs, pesticides, or metals, or even adulterated with unlabeled ingredients such as prescription drugs.
Don't talk trash about sugar Scott. I really like my sugar, almost as much as caffeine. You can regulate the ginseng.
I am not necessarily a fan of regulating everything and having all of our products getting the expensive stamp of approval. What does concern me with these supplements however is the way they are marketed to the young consumer who is weightlifting and we have no true way of knowing the true effect. Bodybuilding, MMA, fitness, etc. have all become extremely mainstream more then they ever have been among teens and those in the early 20's. Any company can put out fancy ads showing the one year difference and these kids pump themselves full of the supplements with no known long term effect.
According to 5-hour energy's website they're considered a supplement by the FDA, so I can only assume that they would be required to file reports on the safety of Five hour energy's particular chemical composition.
Re: Better living through chemistry?
mInvestor
2/20/2012 4:46:55 PM
@Street Smart,
I am surprised that this expert suggesting to give up prescription drugs completely since day one. This is too much for an average person. I believe and I know in fact that herbal and natural medcine and treatment (especailly Chinese medicine) works. But it need a long time, not only on medicine, also on lots of other things (including diet and exercises daily). It's a long journey, not easy, but of course the benefits are hugh.
But for an average person, it needs faith and decipline. Not that easy.
Did anybody see 60 minutes Sunday night? Interesting piece on whether or not antidepressants (and I imagine many other drugs) have any effect at all.
The scientist in question said much of the benefit came from the "placebo effect," of people taking sugar pills and thinking it was medicine.
Also, I wonder if many drugs become more expensive by being put under the regulatory framework and thus become more valuable through scarcity value -- by virtue of being approved by the FDA, they become more expensive because of their regulated nature.
What would happen if we suddenly regulated Caffeine? Certainly the price of caffeinated products would go up as producers would have to enter a regulatory process.
That brings me to another question -- is there much difference between Ginseng and Sugar? If you regulate Ginseng to you need to regulate sugar as well? They are both growh, ingested, and have certain known effects on humans.
In general prescription drug plans don't cover supplements at all. That's another reason why the idea of swapping "natural" for "pharmaceutical" really doesn't make a lot of sense.
In fact, some of the industry is going the other way. There are now prescription-strength versions of supplement stand-bys like Omega 3, which are fully covered under plans, as opposed to shelling out full freight at the Vitamin Shoppe.
Re: Better living through chemistry?
Broadway
2/20/2012 2:39:19 PM
I agree that it's not an either-or proposition between "natural" and man-made medicines. I might be wrong, but I have the view that the herbs, accupuncture, aromatherapy, etc. etc. is good for maintenance and promoting health -- in other words, helping you to stay balanced and well. Whereas man-made drugs are needed for when you are actually sick, whether something like a bacterial infection or something like cancer or high blood pressure. Our healthcare system after all is based on making sick people better, or at least prolonging their lives. It is NOT designed to keep healthy people healthy.
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