Herbal Supplements Are Often Not What They Seem

[HuckleB]

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

"Americans spend an estimated $5 billion a year on unproven herbal supplements that promise everything from fighting off colds to curbing hot flashes and boosting memory. But now there is a new reason for supplement buyers to beware: DNA tests show that many pills labeled as healing herbs are little more than powdered rice and weeds.

Using a test called DNA barcoding, a kind of genetic fingerprinting that has also been used to help uncover labeling fraud in the commercial seafood industry, Canadian researchers tested 44 bottles of popular supplements sold by 12 companies. They found that many were not what they claimed to be, and that pills labeled as popular herbs were often diluted — or replaced entirely — by cheap fillers like soybean, wheat and rice.

...

Those findings mirror a similar study of black cohosh supplements conducted at Stony Brook University medical center last year. Dr. David A. Baker, a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive medicine, bought 36 black cohosh supplements from online and chain stores. Bar coding tests showed that a quarter of them were not black cohosh, but instead contained an ornamental plant from China.

Dr. Baker called the state of supplement regulation “the Wild West,” and said most consumers had no idea how few safeguards were in place. “If you had a child who was sick and 3 out of 10 penicillin pills were fake, everybody would be up in arms,” Dr. Baker said. “But it’s O.K. to buy a supplement where 3 out of 10 pills are fake. I don’t understand it. Why does this industry get away with that?”


Oh, I know, the supplement pushers will not be happy at this additional reporting on this study and others that show the same results. Unfortunately, it makes no sense for them to continue to push an unethical product as if it's fine and dandy.

:hi"

[A Little Weird]

1. It doesn't make sense that supplements aren't regulated

But I guess the trend over the last few decades has been for less government regulation so not likely to improve.

[xchrom]

2. du rec.

[djean111]

3. You know what was unethical and dangerous?

Prempro.

Prempro - Higher Risk of Cancer, Heart Attack, Stroke and Alzheimers
http://www.drugrecalls.com/prempro.html

I didn't take anything at all for menopause symptoms, because thank goodness for the internet!, but backed against a wall I would choose black cohosh.

[HuckleB]

4. A red herring followed by an anecdote.

Why do you think your response has anything to do with the content of the OP?

[hedgehog]

5. There are two problems here that shouldn't be confused -

manufacturers making claims for herbs that may or may not be true, and manufacturers claiming their product is one thing when it is another. Even if the FDA can't handle it, shouldn't the Federal Trade Commission and State Attorneys General get involved?

[HuckleB]

6. They should.

Unfortunately, Big Supp has so many folks cowed, I suspect an AG would be putting him- or herself at political risk to do so.

[MineralMan]

7. With bulk sources for most of these supplements coming from China,

there's good reason to be concerned. Since there is no way for consumers to check the actual contents, there are risks of taking some supplement that may have an ingredient in it that has effects that may not be desirable.

And China is the source for most herbal ingredients for all supplement companies.

[RSmith320]

8. I agree!

I was in my local drugstore over the weekend looking at some multivitamins, I never knew there were so many foreign made supplements and medicine. I'm not sure what to take anymore.

[HuckleB]

9. If you eat well, you may not need any.

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/who-takes-dietary-supplements-and-why/

[RSmith320]

10. Interesting read. Thanks!

I am guilty of not eating the best foods either....

[HuckleB]

11. More on the topic: How weak regulation leads to fake and contaminated herbal supplements

http://sciencebasedpharmacy.wordpress.com/2013/11/07/how-weak-regulation-leads-to-fake-and-contaminated-herbal-supplements/

[Celebration]

12. it really is an FTC matter

No different from any product, if they claim one thing on the label, and it isn't that, then the company should be prosecuted! Or, class action lawsuit should be brought that bankrupts them.

As for the FDA, let them spend their time trying to combat the huge increase in food borne illness, which is a big health threat to the people of this country.

[HuckleB]

13. Or, when it comes to health care, we make them prove it from the get go.

Oh, and we have basic regulations that force them to have their product tested by the Feds on an ongoing basis.

Stop supporting ugly scam artists. It's wrong.

[Celebration]

14. lol

Because calling for the FTC to get off their butts, and lawsuits to bankrupt companies is SOOOOOO supporting scam artists.

That just totally makes sense, right?

[HuckleB]

15. You're response certainly makes no sense.

That's about the only that's clear about your response.