Dietary supplements not what they are made up to be

Over 20,000 go to ER from side effects

A new study by Consumer Reports shows that dietary supplements are causing severe side effects to patients and send thousands to the emergency room each year.

“Supplements are not regulated by the FDA in the same way prescription drugs are regulated,” Jessica Lind, a registered dietitian at Gundersen Health System, said. “So, they have a whole set of standards that are much more ‘laxed.”

Lind says you should always contact your doctor before taking anything, because they would be able to tell you the positives and the negatives but, even then, some supplements are very sketchy and the best advice is to stay away from them.

“There’s nothing in place that’s testing out these supplements and making sure that what the supplement says that it is and what it’s going to do is true,” Lind said. “So, it is really difficult, even for the medical community, to adequately advise people for supplement intake.”

More than 20,000 people nationally are brought to the emergency room each year for supplement side effects, including rapid heartbeat, liver damage and seizures. 

Lind says to carefully read each bottle. Very carefully. Maybe with a magnifying glass.

“The labels of these supplements are plastered with disclaimers,” Lind said. “Typically, a lot of them will have in big bold letters on the front saying it does this and such grand thing in your body, and then there’s little disclaimers on the back that say it’s not supported by any evidence.”