[ad_1]
Adolescents who consume dietary supplements to lose weight, gain weight or develop their muscles may be at risk of serious injury or death.
That's according to a new study published Wednesday in the Journal of Adolescent Health, which examines health problems that occur after children, adolescents or young adults have taken vitamins or supplements.
The analysis included cases that had been reported to the Food and Drug Administration between 2004 and 2015. The study's authors identified 977 cases, 40% of which involved emergency travel, one hospitalization, disability or death. The other cases concerned visits to the doctor.
And although vitamins and dietary supplements were included in the analysis, the researchers found that supplements were responsible for the majority of cases.
"Compared to vitamins, dietary supplements sold to lose weight, develop weight training, or boost energy have almost tripled the risk of serious health problems," said Flora Or, researcher at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and the main author of the study.
The study did not examine how the supplements and vitamins were ingested, nor the specific ingredients.
However, the authors suggest that dietary supplements could be harmful in two ways: either they contained hazardous ingredients that were not on the label, or the users combined them with other supplements or prescription drugs.
In addition, the researchers said their findings may be underestimated because consumers may not always know that their symptoms are related to dietary supplements or not report these events to a physician.
"Our article shows only a tiny fraction of a very big public health problem," he told NBC News.
The study did not examine what specific health problems resulted from vitamins and supplements. However, previous studies have associated supplements aimed at losing weight, building muscle mass or increasing energy, with multiple health problems, including chronic diarrhea, dehydration, stroke, convulsions, heart problems and kidney and liver damage.
External experts studying drug ingredients on the market were not surprised by the new findings.
"No matter how you take a look at the world of supplements, these categories – weight loss, sports supplements, special enhancement supplements – continue to appear", said Dr. Pieter Cohen, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School,.
Indeed, the FDA has issued warnings regarding certain supplements sold for weight loss and weight gain.
But a professional organization in the supplement industry, the Council for Responsible Nutrition, maintains that the vast majority of food supplements are safe. "This article focuses on non-standard products that do not come from a responsible industry." CRN recognizes that there is a problem of contaminated illegal products masquerading as dietary supplements and is prompting consumers to choose products made by responsible companies that scrupulously respect the laws in force, "Group CEO Steve Mister told NBC News in a statement.
Teen and creatine
Experts say that creatine is a particularly problematic dietary supplement for children and adolescents. This age group has easy access to food creatine, which is marketed as a way of developing one's muscles.
Creatine can cause dehydration, and some long-term studies in adults have suggested that the supplement could lead to kidney or liver damage. However, there is virtually no research on its effects in adolescents. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends not using drugs or performance enhancing products for young people. In fact, the labels of most products containing creatine indicate that they are not intended for people under 18 years of age.
But this does not prevent retailers from selling them to teens and teens to buy them.
"It's not illegal to sell these products to children under the age of 18," said Dr. Ruth Lynn Milanaik, pediatric development and behavioral specialist at Cohen Children's Medical Center of Hewlett, New York.
"Your 7-year-old could legally buy creatine," Milanaik told NBC News.
Milanaik has not participated in the new study, but has studied how retailers are selling this supplement that strengthens muscles in the past. In her 2017 study published in the journal Pediatrics, she called 244 stores selling dietary supplements. One of his colleagues claimed to be a high school student, asking store employees what he could use to build muscle.
Sixty-seven percent of these employees recommended creatine to the person they thought was a teenager.
"They recommended a product for boys for which it is clearly stated on the label: do not give it to boys," said Milanaik.
In addition, teens may not use these products properly. "They tend to think," If a scoop is good, two scoops should be better, "she said.
Renowned doctors can best advise teens on the healthiest ways to build muscle, including a diet rich in lean protein, fruits and vegetables, and bodybuilding.
FOLLOW NBC HEALTH SUR TWITTER & FACEBOOK
[ad_2]
Source link