More than 20,000 people in the United States end up in emergency departments due to dietary supplement-related incidents, according to research published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
This is partly down to supplements bypassing rigorous testing protocols required for pharmaceuticals, meaning their safety profiles, potential side effects and tolerability remain largely unexamined by government authorities.
Doctor Daniel Atkinson told GB News: "They don't undergo the same monitoring as a typical medicine would, so their tolerability, safety and side effects aren't tested for.
"The side effects can also vary depending on the supplements. Some may cause a few side effects while others can cause more serious ones. More general side effects a supplement may cause include vomiting, nausea, headache, headache, dehydration, allergic reactions and liver damage."
Young adults bear the brunt of supplement-related emergencies
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Young adults bear the brunt of supplement-related emergencies, warned Dr Daniel Atkinson. Research shows adults aged 20-34 accounted for the highest number of emergency department visits, with weight loss and energy supplements being the primary culprits.
"The study found that weight loss and energy supplements were the most common causes of young adults’ ER visits, while in older adults, it was choking or swallowing problems," shared Dr Daniel Atkinson.
The willingness of younger demographics to experiment with various supplements for health, weight loss or beauty purposes may explain their overrepresentation in emergency statistics.
He noted that US Food and Drug Administration has recently intensified its warnings about tianeptine, a substance commonly found in energy shots that continues to be sold illegally despite lacking approval for any medical use.
The FDA cautioned consumers about the poisoning risks associated with exposure to these products, with tianeptine's presence in energy supplements representing a particularly dangerous example of how unapproved substances infiltrate the supplement market.
While not authorised in the United States or most other countries, these energy boost shots continue to circulate, putting unsuspecting consumers at risk of serious health consequences.
The FDA's recent recall of VitalityVita products further illustrates the dangers lurking in supposedly harmless supplements.
Marketed for weight loss benefits, these capsules contained undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients, including sildenafil, a medication prescribed for pulmonary hypertension and erectile dysfunction, and diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory painkiller.
The presence of these potent pharmaceuticals in dietary supplements could lead to "serious side effects", warned Dr Atkinson.
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The presence of potent pharmaceuticals in supplements can lead to serious side effects
GETTYFor those seeking to verify supplement safety, the Medicines and Healthcare products Agency (MHRA) monitors supplements marketed with medicine claims or those containing substances with medicinal effects.
The existence of products like VitalityVita in the US, however, demonstrates how easily dangerous formulations can reach consumers before regulatory intervention occurs.
In addition, Dr Andrew Shapiro, a US-based surgeon who leads a supervised GLP-1 weight loss programme, warned that supplements can significantly interact with popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic.
"Certain supplements, such as berberine or chromium, may also lower blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia," he told GB News. "GLP-1s slow down digestion, so supplements like fibre or magnesium can worsen gastrointestinal side effects such as bloating or discomfort."
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