Experts are now raising their concern on the safety of some herbal and dietary supplements available in the market today. Doctors and health organizations are aware of the health risks which are associated with these products. There are still a lot of dietary supplements in the market which needs to be certified by sports organization and need to pass accreditation by health agencies. These concerns were heightened when the FDA issued warnings about more than 70 weight-loss supplements that included potentially dangerous ingredients. The FDA found out that these weight loss supplements contain prescription drugs and with noted side effects like seizure, heart attack and stroke. Just recently, the agency also issued public health advisory warning consumers on some bodybuilding supplements that contain steroid like ingredients. One manufacturer recalled these bodybuilding products from its distributors when 8 of their products were included in the list of FDA.

An article published by the Wall Street Journal lists some of the necessary precautions that consumers should consider before taking any herbal and dietary supplement. Ample knowledge on what an individual is taking will help avoid any adverse side effects and complications. Linda Kats, the chief medical officer of FDA said that consumers need to be their own advocate, and read and understand what they are taking. There are a lot of available online information as well as certifications programs that will ensure the safety of a supplement.

Ask an Expert

The best thing to do before taking any supplement is to ask a doctor or any specialist to avoid any health problem. Travis Tygart of the US Anti-doping Agency advises all professional athletes to consult an expert before taking supplements. This will minimize the risk of having a failed drug test during competitions. The case of swimmer Kicker Vencill is an example. He took a multivitamins to aid him during trainings but was suspended for 2 years due to a failed steroid test. The multivitamins contained a banned steroid.

Conduct a Research

Conducting your own research on a particular supplement will help you determine if it is really effective. There are studies conducted on some herbal preparations which were noted to have no benefits to the user. Side effects were also attributed to some herbs according to the National Institute of Health. It includes heart problems and liver complications. Relying too much on the information on the label and advertising materials are not recommended.

Interactions with Other Drugs

Not all dietary supplements are safe to use with other drugs especially prescription drugs. Always check if there are no adverse effects when taking it along with other herbs, vitamins and minerals, and other medicines. Individuals with existing health problems should be cautious when taking supplements since it can worsen their condition. People with heart ailments should be careful about supplements that act as stimulants. Some herbs with similar characteristics include bitter orange and guarana, and other herbs which contains caffeine.

Check for Information from Health Agencies

Government agencies such as the National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health provide ample information on almost all supplements available in the market. They publish information on supplements’ potency, side effects and interactions. Fact sheets and research database are also available. Visiting these websites will be a great help: www.medlineplus.gov, nccam.nih.gov, dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov and naturaldatabaseconsumer.com

Look for Safety Warnings

The FDA provides safety warnings on supplements. Product which claims to have steroid-like effects may actually contain banned substances. Claims like “”herbal” versions of prescriptions drugs should be studied first. It is a must to read the composition of any dietary or herbal supplements. Some products use versions of steroid names or suffixes common for steroids. Example is Tren for Trenbolone. If you are a professional athlete, a visit to the site of WADA is a must to know the specific substances and supplements banned by the organization.

Certified Products

Another safety precaution is to look for product certifications. There are companies that test supplements for safety and purity. In baseball and football league, only supplements reviewed and certified by the NSF are allowed to be purchased by their players. The NSF certifies products which comply with sports standards and policies. This is an assurance that players will not violate any doping policy of the league. The HFL Sports Science also checks and provides information on supplements. Some sites which are worthy to visit are www.informed-choice.org, www.usp.org, and ConsumerLab.com.

Symptoms

Watch for symptoms when taking any herbal or dietary supplements. Stop using it if you are experiencing some adverse reactions. The FDA enumerated some of the signs that may be associated with supplements intake. These are nausea, weakness or fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, yellow corneas and skin, and discolored urine. The symptoms can lead to heart and liver problems.

According to the research of Council for Responsible Nutrition, almost 2/3 of American adults are using dietary supplements which includes multi-vitamins, minerals and herbal products. Over the counter products claiming to reduce weight, build muscle or increase energy are also popular. If you are one of these users, following the above mentioned safety tips is indispensable.

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