Taking dietary supplements that are sold for weight loss, muscle building, and energy increases the risk for severe medical events in children and young adults, reveals a new study.
The new research was led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study found that, compared with vitamins, these types of supplements were linked to nearly three times as many severe medical outcomes in young people.
Nutrients from Food Better Than Supplements in Lowering Death Risk
Nutrients from food are much better than taking supplements in lowering death risk and cancer. However, excess intake of certain supplements may be associated with increased death of cancer.
Advertisement
‘Dietary supplements increase hospitalization and death in children, and young adults. Therefore, policymakers and retailers need to take action to protect children and consumers of all ages.’
Tweet it Now
"The FDA has issued countless warnings about supplements sold for weight loss, muscle building or sport performance, sexual function, and energy, and we know these products are widely marketed to and used by young people. So what are the consequences for their health? That's the question we wanted to answer," said lead author Flora Or, a researcher with Harvard Chan School's Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders.
The study was published online in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
The researchers looked at adverse event reports between January 2004 and April 2015 in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System on the food and dietary supplements database. They analyzed the relative risk for severe medical events such as death, disability, and hospitalization in individuals aged 0 and 25 years that were linked with the use of dietary supplements sold for weight loss, muscle building, or energy compared to vitamins.
![Dietary Supplement Curbs Hyperexcitability in Epilepsy]( "Dietary Supplement Curbs Hyperexcitability in Epilepsy")
Inducing a biochemical alteration in brain proteins via dietary supplement glucosamine rapidly dampens the pathological hyperexcitability in the brain.
They found that there were 977 single-supplement-related adverse event reports for the target age group. Of those, approximately 40% involved severe medical outcomes, including death and hospitalization.
Supplements sold for weight loss, muscle building, and energy were associated with almost three times the risk for severe medical outcomes compared to vitamins. Supplements sold for sexual function and colon cleanse were associated with approximately two times the risk for severe medical outcomes compared to vitamins.
Senior author S. Bryn Austin, professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, noted that reputable physicians do not recommend the use of the type of dietary supplements analyzed in this study.
Many of these products have been found to be adulterated with prescription pharmaceuticals, banned substances, heavy metals, pesticides, and other dangerous chemicals. And other studies have linked weight-loss and muscle-building supplements with stroke, testicular cancer, liver damage, and even death.
"How can we continue to let the manufacturers of these products and the retailers who profit from them play Russian roulette with America's youth?" Austin said. "It is well past time for policymakers and retailers to take meaningful action to protect children and consumers of all ages."
Source: Eurekalert
The researchers looked at adverse event reports between January 2004 and April 2015 in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System on the food and dietary supplements database. They analyzed the relative risk for severe medical events such as death, disability, and hospitalization in individuals aged 0 and 25 years that were linked with the use of dietary supplements sold for weight loss, muscle building, or energy compared to vitamins.
Dietary Supplement Curbs Hyperexcitability in Epilepsy
Inducing a biochemical alteration in brain proteins via dietary supplement glucosamine rapidly dampens the pathological hyperexcitability in the brain.
Advertisement
They found that there were 977 single-supplement-related adverse event reports for the target age group. Of those, approximately 40% involved severe medical outcomes, including death and hospitalization.
Supplements sold for weight loss, muscle building, and energy were associated with almost three times the risk for severe medical outcomes compared to vitamins. Supplements sold for sexual function and colon cleanse were associated with approximately two times the risk for severe medical outcomes compared to vitamins.
Senior author S. Bryn Austin, professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, noted that reputable physicians do not recommend the use of the type of dietary supplements analyzed in this study.
Many of these products have been found to be adulterated with prescription pharmaceuticals, banned substances, heavy metals, pesticides, and other dangerous chemicals. And other studies have linked weight-loss and muscle-building supplements with stroke, testicular cancer, liver damage, and even death.
"How can we continue to let the manufacturers of these products and the retailers who profit from them play Russian roulette with America's youth?" Austin said. "It is well past time for policymakers and retailers to take meaningful action to protect children and consumers of all ages."
Source: Eurekalert
Dietary Supplement Used for Cholesterol Carries Significant Risk
Study aimed to assess the safety profile of red years rice by analyzing spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions.
Advertisement
 Liver Damage Possible by Medications, Herbal and Dietary SupplementsAn article in the US Pharmacist highlights the possibility of liver damage caused be medications including herbal and dietary supplements. | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Reading
Latest Drug News
The CDSCO has approved the intravenous administration of AstraZeneca Pharma India's liver cancer drug, Tremelimumab Concentrate.
The FDA advises consumers not to use compounded medications as an alternative to known diabetic and weight reduction medications Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy.
Addressing the unmet needs of Parkinson's Disease by providing disease-modifying therapies could bring about a major shift in the way that patients are treated.
Microrobots could swirl through a person's blood stream, search for targeted areas to treat for various ailments.
Supplementation with multivitamins is an inexpensive way for older adults to slow down memory loss.