Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

Americans take dietary supplements to help them lose weight, be more aware, and for general well being, but according to a recent Consumer Reports story, those “healthy pills” may be making them sick. The consumer magazine identified 12 ingredients in readily available dietary supplements that should be avoided because they have been linked to serious cardiovascular, liver and kidney problems. These dietary supplements aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and thus manufacturers of these products don’t have to provide evidence that they are safe and effective.

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The herbal weight loss supplement Que She, advertised as “Slimming Factor Capsule” and as “an all-natural blend of Chinese herbs,” widely distributed on Internet sites such as the Bouncing Bear Botanicals website and at retail outlets such as Sacred Journey in Lawrence, Kansas, has been found to contain ingredients that can cause serious harm to consumers, according to an analysis conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging the public not to purchase or consume Vita Breath, a brand of dietary supplement sold at health fairs on the Internet, because the product may contain dangerous levels of lead. To date, the FDA has received one report of a patient with lead poisoning who was taking Vita Breath and two other herbal products.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers yesterday that the dietary supplement Stiff Nights contains sulfoaildenafil, a chemical compound similar to sildenafil, the active ingredient found in Viagra. When combined with prescription nitrates, including nitroglycerin, sildenafil can cause blood pressure to drop dangerously.

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All lots and expiration dates of 65 BodyBuilding.com brand dietary supplements are being recalled because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believes the products contain ingredients that are either classified or the FDA believes they should be classified as steroids. Acute liver injury is known to be a possible harmful effect of using steroid-containing products.

Steroids also may cause other serious long-term adverse health consequences including shrinkage of the testes and male infertility, masculinization of women, breast enlargement in males, short stature in children, a higher predilection to misuse other drugs and alcohol, adverse effects on blood lipid levels, and increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and death.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is notifying health care professionals and their patients about dietary supplements marketed as an alternative to anabolic steroids for body building and increasing muscle mass and strength. The products are sold both online and in retail stores and promoted to athletes to improve sports performance and aid in recovery from training and sporting events. Although marketed as dietary supplements, the FDA says the products are not dietary supplements but rather unapproved new drugs that have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety and effectiveness.

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Haloteco is conducting a voluntary recall of its dietary supplement Libipower Plus after testing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found undeclared tadalafil in the product. Tadalafil is a pharmaceutical used for treating erectile dysfunction. Libipower Plus’ labeling states it does not contain tadalafil, and the product is not permitted in foods or drugs sold as dietary supplements. The undeclared ingredients may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs such as nitroglycerin and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Consumers often take nitrates to treat common conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease. The product may also cause side effects such as headaches and flushing.

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