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Test Your Supplement Savvy
on drugs like warfarin or aspirin. Dietary supplements are not required to go through the same pre-market government review for quality, safety and efficacy ADVERTISED THROUGHOUT THE MEDIA, DISPLAYED IN GROCERY STORES as drug products. But that doesn’t mean they should be taken lightly—or without AND PHARMACIES, AND PROMOTED WIDELY ON THE INTERNET, DIETARY consulting your healthcare professional, especially if you have a medical condition SUPPLEMENTS LOOK LIKE JUST ANOTHER CONSUMER PRODUCT ON THE SHELF. 3. False. It’s unwise to judge a product’s efficacy or safety based only on Take this quiz created by the Federal Trade Commission to find out how much you testimonials. First, it is very difficult to verify the accuracy of the account: Some know about safely using dietary supplements.
marketers may embellish or even make up testimonials to sell their products. 1. A supplement labeled “natural’” means that it also is _________________.
Second, you can’t generalize one person’s experience to others. Anecdotes are not 4. True. Studies suggest that several popular supplements, including herbal products, may provide health benefits. For example, calcium can reduce the risk of osteoporosis, folic acid during pregnancy can prevent birth defects, and there is some evidence suggesting that glucosamine may be helpful in reducing 2. Since dietary supplements are so readily available and don’t require a doctor’s inflammation and pain for some people with mild or moderate osteoarthritis. prescription, they are much safer than drug products and can be used to self-treat Check out any health claims with a reliable source, such as the National Institutes of illnesses without a health professional’s advice or supervision. Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements, a public health or scientific organization like the American Cancer Society or the Arthritis Foundation, and your health provider.
3. Testimonials in dietary supplement promotions give a good idea of the supple- 5. A or B. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare provider about any medicines you take, as well as any dietary supplements you’re using or thinking ment’s benefits and safety because they’re based on first-hand accounts. about using. Though some doctors have limited knowledge of herbal products and other supplements, they have access to the most current research and can help 4. Many supplements have proven health benefits. monitor your condition to ensure that no problems develop or serious interactions occur. Retailers or marketers can be good sources of information about their 5. Before you start taking a dietary supplement, talk it over with a knowledgeable products and their ingredients, but bear in mind that they have a financial interest in their products. If your doctor or pharmacist has a financial interest in the A. Your doctor or healthcare professional product, get a second, independent opinion. For more information about the safe use of dietary supplements, visit the The Federal Trade Commission works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide 1. D. The term “natural” may suggest to consumers that the supplement is safe, information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint, especially when compared with prescription drugs that are known to have side or to get free information on any of a variety of consumer topics, call toll-free, effects. But natural is not necessarily safe. Although many supplements can be 1-877-FTC-HELP, or use the complaint form at used safely by most people, other supplements, including some herbal products, The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related can be dangerous. Aristolochic acid, which has been found in some traditional complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to Chinese herbal remedies, has been linked to severe kidney disease. And the herb hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
ephedra has been linked to serious, even fatal, cardiovascular complications. Even certain vitamins can be toxic at high doses. And certain supplements have been found to interact with other medications in ways that could cause injury. 2. False. Studies have shown that some herbal products interact with drugs and can have a wide range of effects. For example, St. John’s Wort can lower the effects of indinavir, a protease inhibitor for treating HIV. St. John’s Wort also may interfere with drugs used by organ transplant patients and drugs used to treat depression, seizures and certain cancers. In addition, there are concerns that it may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. Garlic, ginkgo, danshen and dong quai can cause blood to thin, which could cause serious problems for people American Council on Exercise® is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people to live their most fit lives. In addition to offering quality certifications and education for health and fitness professionals, ACE also protects the public against ineffective products, programs and trends by arming them with unbiased, science-based health and fitness information. To learn more about ACE, or how you can use or purchase Fit Facts, visi.

Source: http://www.acefitness.org/fitfacts/pdfs/fitfacts/itemid_2664.pdf