It is unbelievable how often people tell me they are taking natural supplements or herbal drugs because they are natural; yet these same people have an aversion to prescription medicine.
The FDA regulates prescription drugs; there is no regulation of supplements. In a recent review from the FDA’s Tainted Supplements database, they found that a total of 776 dietary supplements, produced by 146 different companies, were identified as containing unlisted pharmaceutical ingredients. Most of these products were marketed for sexual enhancement, weight loss or muscle building, and most commonly contained Viagra (sildenafil), sibutramine (Meridia; removed from the US market in 2010 because it caused heart valve deterioration)), and anabolic steroids. And this list is likely incomplete as it is a post marketing survey!
Some supplement manufacturers voluntarily submit their products to USP or other independent institutions for verification. USP, for instance, will allow its seal to be displayed on the labels of products it verifies are made using Good Manufacturing Practices and contain the labeled ingredients in the correct doses without unlabeled additives or harmful levels of contaminants. A USP seal does not indicate that a product has any medical benefit, but it’s a good indication that what’s on the label is what’s in the container. These are the only ones you should use!
You can review the list here
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