Missing link

From the medical point of view, all diet pills have risky side effects. Sometimes, for medical reasons, to treat obesity, people really need to take diet pills, under medical supervision. As for official approval, the FDA imposed regulation on activities and products related to diet drugs and pharmaceutical compounds. This does not apply to dietary supplements, which can be bought over the counter, so the FDA focuses on this market.

Dietary supplements enter the marketplace without obtaining a safety review by FDA and are widely available. Studies about the safety of these products are scarce. There is no review of adverse reactions or of side effects, as there is for drugs. Nevertheless, an increased number of reports and complaints about dietary supplements have recently been recognized. What today is certain is that dietary supplements have been connected with at least 17 serious events: one death, two heart attacks among them.

A list of dangerous dietary supplements is available in the section called “Illnesses and Injuries Associated With the Use of Selected Dietary Supplements” of an out-of-print 1993 FDA document “Unsubstantiated Claims and Documented Health Hazards in the Dietary Supplement Marketplace”.

The marketplace is directed by a national list of forbidden substances; each American state, through its own FDA, can add other dangerous substances to complete the general list.

Particular laws on dietary supplements

Dietary supplements products are controlled by rules imposed by federal regulators to protect people from the possible negative long-term consequences. Young people are the main focus. In Florida, for instance, teenagers under 18 aren't allowed to buy or obtain dietary supplements. Since so much emphasis is placed on weight loss, looking slim, fitting in, young people jump into risky diets, putting their lives in danger. Any diet drug, diet pill or dietary supplement can affect their metabolism.

Ephedra, the active ingredient and the most popular herb (also known as “ma huang”) in many dietary supplements was the subject of a recent regulation, on July 12, 2004. The Food and Drug Administration issued a regulation stating dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids are prohibited. When taken in high doses, these dietary supplements are risky for human health. A lot of people ignored the conditions of use recommended or suggested by labeling, misusing the products containing ephedrine and experiencing the risky effects of this drug. This is the case for weight-loss supplements but also for products which increase athletic performance.