Most Americans Take a Dietary Supplement, But Are They Helpful?
“They can be a waste of money and, in the worst case, they can cause some damage,” says Erin Michos, MD, associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
About 59 million Americans regularly take some form of vitamins or supplements, but a new study shows that some supplements could be putting your health at risk.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that at least 15.6 million American adults may have consumed an herbal product in the past 30 days that could damage their liver. The six worst offenders were: turmeric, green tea, ashwagandha, garcinia, cambogia, red yeast rice and black cohosh.
A major problem with supplements is that the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality. “So many people are taking these when many well-conducted clinical trials have shown that these supplements are no better than placebo,” says Michos.
The new study found that some herbal products had discrepancies between their ingredient lists and what was actually in them. The best way to ensure quality is to look for products that have been certified by a third-party company, such as NSF, USP, BSGC, or Consumer-Lab.
“I think individuals should talk to their doctors about whether they need these supplements and why they are taking them,” says Michos.
The study authors noted that liver damage due to the use of herbal and nutritional supplements has increased and now accounts for more than 20% of liver injuries. Serious liver problems can lead to the need for a transplant – or even death.