The use of supplements to build better body physique is not always a good option. The US FDA has already issued several warnings to the public about the use of dietary supplements because some of these products contain harmful ingredients. The country is not alone in this dilemma. If supplement manufacturers can’t market their products in the US, they will find other countries with lenient policies on supplements. Most Asian countries are the easy target of supplement manufacturers because strict laws and regulations have yet to be established on products marketed as dietary and bodybuilding supplements.

However, regulatory agencies of most governments are not complacent on this issue. They are aware of the dangers of these supplements when taken by the consumers. Since some of these products are imported as dietary supplements and not as drugs, a thorough analysis of its contents is not being done. There are cases where some ingredients are not disclosed on the label posing health risks to the user. In order to stop this, the US FDA is cooperating with other countries by informing them of the products which they found unsafe and ineffective. An example of this is the recent action of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India where they issued an advisory against the use of some dietary supplements available in their country. This is in response to the request of the US FDA to look into products which may contain harmful ingredients and could be in the Indian market already.

Rupali Mukherjee of India Times said that the Food Safety and Standards Authority issued the advisory on July 16. It can be recalled that some of these supplements are already being recalled in the US and other countries. According to Mukherjee, a class-I recall is for dangerous or defective products that could cause serious health problems or even lead to death. These supplements were found to contain steroid or steroid-like substances. Since these were not approved by the US FDA as drugs, it can lead to serious health problems if not taken properly.

Steroids are classified as controlled substances. If anabolic steroids were intentionally added in these dietary products, then the possibility of experiencing negative side effects is prevalent. Dietary supplements can be purchased easily over the counter or at any health store without a doctor’s prescription. The consumers usually depend on the dosage and instructions contained in the label. This practice increases the risk of complications. Users who want to achieve instant results like better body tone, bigger muscles and increased stamina may sometime take beyond the normal dosage leading to its abuse.

Mukherjee said that steroid-containing products pose a risk of acute liver injury to people who consume them. “In addition, steroids may cause other serious long-term adverse health consequences in people, including children. These may include male infertility, masculinisation of women, stunted growth in children, adverse effects on blood lipid profile and increased risk of heart attack, stroke and even death,” he said.

Other products that should be scrutinized aside from dietary supplements include bodybuilding supplements, whey proteins and vitamins. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is setting up new guidelines and control measures on all food and beverages, dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, energy drinks and special food including functional and probiotic products. The products mentioned above will now be required to include vitamin stipulations, mineral and protein content. Recommended portion sizes or proper dosages are also needed. Manufacturers of supplements should get the approval first of the Food Safety and Standards Authority for any claims on prevention or cure of diseases.

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