6 Things to Know About Supplements
By Dr. Roz Donovan
1) Supplement Oversight: The DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health and Education) Act in 1994 set the standard for supplement oversight by the US government. The oversight outlined in DSHEA is very limited. The FDA is not authorized to review supplements for safety or efficacy before they reach the market. If a supplement is proven harmful, once it is on the market, the FDA can step in and ban that supplement. If a supplement company is mislabeling a product, the FDA can intervene. No supplement can be marketed as a cure for any ailment. The reason for not allowing the FDA to require safety and efficacy testing before releasing a supplement on to the market is that these studies are quite expensive to perform, and the results are not exclusive to the entity paying for the testing. For example, if an entity paid for testing which showed safety and efficacy of vitamin C for wound healing, at a certain dose and applied in a specific manner, any other entity could market and sell vitamin C for the same use without having to pay for a study of their own. Drug manufacturers can patent new drugs for 10 years after each study showing that they are safe and effective as a treatment for a specific disease. Patenting is not available for natural supplements. This leaves a lot of room in the marketplace for unsafe, ineffective treatments.
2) Supplement Quality: Professional supplement companies self-monitor their products for efficacy and contract with third party labs to ensure that the compounds they claim are in the supplement are, in fact, present and in the specified quantity. Some plants have healing properties in one component of the plant, but not in another component. If a supplement states that it has 1200 mg of turmeric per serving, there is no clear statement of how much Curcumin is present. Curcumin is the active ingredient found in the root of the plant. Turmeric leaf, dried, powdered and capsulized is much cheaper than using the root of the plant. Professional companies make sure that they are using the appropriate part of the plant, treated in the proper manner to get the best results for the end user.
3) Sourcing Matters: Fish oil is an excellent example of how much sourcing matters. Some companies will track the fish used in their supplements to the location where the fish was caught, and the depth of the water, as well as the type of fish. The oil is then tested for contaminants, such as Mercury, to ensure that the finished product is a clean source of essential fatty acids without bioaccumulation of neurotoxins. Not all companies who sell fish oil, stand up to this level of scrutiny, as the regulations are on the purveyor to determine.
4) Storage Matters: Many supplements are temperature or light sensitive. If they are stored at temperatures which are too high or too low, they may lose efficacy. Professional lines and professional purveyors, like FullScript, consider how the supplements need to be stored to maintain their efficacy as long as possible.
5) Manage Supplements with your Doctor: Just because supplements are available over the counter, does not mean that you cannot harm yourself by self-prescribing. Anything which is powerful enough to be a medicine is also powerful enough to be a poison. If you have been taking supplements on the advice of Dr. Google or the shelves of CVS, it may be a good time to meet with a qualified Naturopathic Doctor to review what you are taking and why. There may be significantly better alternatives available for you or it may clear up a nagging health concern to stop taking one or more supplements in your routine. Also, if you are diligently taking a supplement that a doctor prescribed to you a year or longer ago, it may also be time for a review. Supplements are typically part of an individualized treatment plan and may not have a clear end date when you started taking them. For some patients, 6 weeks on a given supplement may be all the nudge their body needs, and for another patient it could be years to restore their body to optimal function with that supplement. If you haven’t checked back in with the prescribing doctor, it may be wise to do so soon. Inappropriate supplement use not only wastes money; it also puts an unnecessary burden on your detoxification systems.
6) Medication Management: Some supplements and natural products have potent interactions with pharmaceutical medications. It is important to consult with an expert who is knowledgeable about both supplements and pharmaceuticals when you want to mix the two. Be sure to tell all your health care providers all of the supplements, herbs, vitamins and pharmaceuticals that you are taking. Even birth control pills and devices can make a difference.
The Bottom Line: Before you start taking the newest "miracle" supplement, speak with your doctor to see how it would interact with your current prescription or supplement regimen as well as if your doctor would recommend it. Always buy supplements from a trusted and reliable source. It matters.
Roz Donovan, ND, is a graduate of National University of Natural Medicine, with a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine. Throughout her doctoral studies, Dr. Donovan received hands-on training from herbalists and a botanist, while also interning in mental health, environmental medicine, pediatrics and general medicine. Her advanced training mentorships focused on traumatic brain injury and gastrointestinal health.
Hive Mind Medicine blog posts are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your health care practitioner for personalized guidance.