What's in your supplements?

richardheath

Probably not what you think!

A recent study of supplements found that many contain NONE of the supposed active ingredient. Others are mixed with various other filler plants which may be harmful.

For the study, the researchers selected popular medicinal herbs, and then randomly bought different brands of those products from stores and outlets in Canada and the United States. To avoid singling out any company, they did not disclose any product names.

Among their findings were bottles of echinacea supplements, used by millions of Americans to prevent and treat colds, that contained ground up bitter weed, Parthenium hysterophorus, an invasive plant found in India and Australia that has been linked to rashes, nausea and flatulence.

Two bottles labeled as St. John’s wort, which studies have shown may treat mild depression, contained none of the medicinal herb. Instead, the pills in one bottle were made of nothing but rice, and another bottle contained only Alexandrian senna, an Egyptian yellow shrub that is a powerful laxative. Gingko biloba supplements, promoted as memory enhancers, were mixed with fillers and black walnut, a potentially deadly hazard for people with nut allergies.

Of 44 herbal supplements tested, one-third showed outright substitution, meaning there was no trace of the plant advertised on the bottle — only another plant in its place.

Many were adulterated with ingredients not listed on the label, like rice, soybean and wheat, which are used as fillers.

In some cases, these fillers were the only plant detected in the bottle — a health concern for people with allergies or those seeking gluten-free products, said the study’s lead author, Steven G. Newmaster, a biology professor and botanical director of the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario at the University of Guelph.

Full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/05/science/herbal-supplements-are-often-not-what-they-seem.html?_r=0

And, of course, this doesn't even address the dubious efficacy of most of these supplements anyway.

WVprankster

"To avoid singling out any company, they did not disclose any product names."

This causes me to suspect their research and testing methods. It seems like this article is a rather "no-duh" slow news day reporting. I liken this article to one that would state "There are cars out there that are inherently more unsafe than others."

richardheath

While I agree that naming names would have been preferable, they were probably afraid of being sued if they did so.

And I'm not sure the car analogy works. The Government tests cars and releases safety ratings for each model. There is NO oversight of the $5 billion a year supplement industry.

mammamaurer

bump

KimINfortheWin

Names would definitely be preferable! They did state that smaller Canadian companies were better than the large multi-national companies. No doubt they would have a large scale lawsuit on their hands if they had stated company names.

Very interesting indeed.

One of the comments following the article was also interesting:
" RSCNyack, NYNYT Pick
I observed a packaging operation on a line that produces herbal and vitamin tables and capsules.

The labeling machine dispensed three types of labels: generic label, fancy label, and store brand label.

All the pills of a certain type came down the same line, and were filled into the three differently-labeled bottles.

The bottle that was sold for $5 contained the same pills as the ones in the $10 bottle, and in the $15 bottle. "Good, better and best" were actually "same, same and same."

Likewise, the various "doses" of the material in the pills and capsules were the same in any labeled dosage. The 500 mg tablet or capsule contained the same quantity of materials as the 1000 mg, and the 1500 mg capsules and tablets.

As to what materials were in the tablets and capsules, I couldn't say. The lettering on the bulk packaging was not in English."