Athletes should take supplements at their own risk
Many supplements recently raised concerns regarding consumer safety. Last December 2008, FDA issued a warning against supplements with hidden prescription drugs that can cause seizure, heart attack and stroke.
Last July, FDA also issued a general warning, along with a list of brand names of dietary supplements discovered to contain anabolic steroids.
A Senate Judiciary sub-committee plans to hold a hearing this month regarding dietary supplement safety.
Consumer advocates call for stricter FDA rules but according to FDA, they are already in the process of improving their enforcements. The agency said that consumers must stay vigilant as well.
According to US Anti-doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart, people should talk to a doctor before taking any supplements.
Consumers should also check for potential drug interactions between herbal, vitamin or mineral supplements and their prescriptions.
Many athletes have been reportedly blaming multivitamins and other dietary as the culprit behind their positive doping tests.
Many professional sport organizations such as the National Football League and Major League Baseball encourage players to take only supplements reviewed and approved by NSF International, a non-profit organization in charge of certifying safety of supplements.
Consumers can also check supplements at HFL, US Pharmacopeia and Consumer Lab websites.
From The Wall Street Journal:
Finally, people should watch carefully for any symptoms that start after they take a new supplement. Among the warning signs cited by the FDA in its public-health advisory on products that may contain steroids are nausea, weakness or fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, yellow corneas and skin, and discolored urine. Most of those are signs of liver or heart problems.
