Dietary Supplements May Not Be What They Seem

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to warn consumers of the dangers of many nutritional supplements on the market today. Dietary supplements are not required to receive FDA approval like their pharmaceutical counterparts. This has led to dangerous and potentially deadly claims by health supplement companies when marketing their supplements.

Nearly 300 products have been deemed fraudulent by the FDA. Most of the fraudulent products are promoted to consumers to assist in weight loss, sexual enhancement, and in bodybuilding. After analysis, it was found that some of the fraudulent supplements included prescription ingredients or other compounds, including new synthetic steroids, that require FDA testing and approval. Supplements containing these compounds do not qualify as dietary supplements.

The reports of injury from these supplements are serious. Some consumers have reported liver injury, heart palpitations, and kidney failure, while others have reported death of their loved ones.

Dietary Supplement Regulation

Under the current law, dietary supplements do not require approval from the FDA before they are sold to consumers. According to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, the manufacturer is responsible for the safety of supplements. If the safety of a supplement is questioned, the FDA will be called on to investigate. With the current guidelines, however, it is much easier for a manufacturer to sell their product than it is for the FDA to remove the same product from the market.

Despite the difficulty of removing products from the market, the FDA has assisted in the recall of over 40 weight loss supplements, over 70 sexual enhancement supplements, and over 80 body building supplements.

How Consumers Can Protect Themselves

Consumers should be aware of warning signs as they look to purchase dietary supplements, including:

• Products claiming to be an alternative to an FDA approved pharmaceutical
• Products claiming to have effects similar to those of pharmaceutical drugs
• Products marketed through mass emails
• Products marketed primary in a language other than English
• Products for sexual enhancement that promise rapid or long-lasting effects
• Products that include a warning that the user may test positive on a performance-enhancing drug screen

Individuals seeking to use any kind of dietary supplement should check with their physician to ensure there are no contraindications for using a nutritional supplement. A physician or registered dietitian can assist in determining if individuals need any nutrient supplementation in addition to a regular diet.

As with evaluating any marketing claims made by a manufacturer, a healthy dose of skepticism can assist in making safe choices. Simple advice such as the following can be applicable in many situations:

• If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is
• If the claims sound unrealistic or exaggerated, they probably are
• Anecdotal claims and personal testimonials are not verifiable and can easily be written by anyone, including fabricated stories created by the product marketing team

Supplement Lawsuits

If you have experienced personal injury as a result of taking a dietary supplement, you may have a legal claim. Lawyers can assist you by providing a no-cost consultation to discuss your individual situation.

Join a Free Homeopathy or Dietary Supplement Fraud Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased a homeopathic or dietary supplement product that failed to perform as advertised, chances are you’ve been the victim of homeopathy or dietary supplement fraud. You may have a claim to seek compensation through a consumer protection class action lawsuit.

Join This Investigation Now