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The consumption of dietary supplements sold for weight loss, muscle building and energy was associated with an increased risk of serious medical events in children and young adults compared to vitamin intake, according to a new study by Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. The study found that, compared to vitamins, these types of supplements were associated with nearly three times as many serious medical consequences among young people.
"The FDA has issued countless warnings regarding supplements sold for weight loss, bodybuilding or athletic performance, sexual function and energy, and we know that these products are widely marketed and used by What are the consequences for their health? This is the question we wanted to answer, "said lead author Flora Or, researcher at the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders from the Harvard Chan School.
The study will be published online June 5, 2019 in the journal Journal of Adolescent Health.
The researchers reviewed reports of adverse events reported between January 2004 and April 2015 in the US Food and Drug Administration's adverse reaction reporting system in the Dietary and Dietary Supplements Database. They analyzed the relative risk of serious medical events such as death, disability and hospitalization in individuals aged 0 to 25 years, related to the use of dietary supplements sold for weight loss, bodybuilding or energy compared to vitamins.
They found that there were 977 reports of adverse events related to a single supplement for the target age group. Of these, about 40% had serious medical consequences, including death and hospitalization. The supplements sold for weight loss, bodybuilding and energy were associated with a medical risk three times higher than vitamins. Supplements sold for sexual function and colon cleansing were associated with a medical risk twice as high as vitamins.
Lead author, S. Bryn Austin, a professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, noted that reputed doctors did not recommend the use of the type of dietary supplements analyzed in this study. Many of these products have been shown to be adulterated with prescription pharmaceuticals, banned substances, heavy metals, pesticides and other hazardous chemicals. And other studies have linked the supplements for weight loss and muscle building, with strokes, testicular cancer, liver damage and even death.
"How can we continue to let the manufacturers of these products and the retailers who benefit from them play Russian roulette with the American youth?" Austin said. "It is high time for policymakers and retailers to take concrete steps to protect children and consumers of all ages."
Yongjoo Kim of the Harvard Chan School was also a co-author.
This study was funded by the Ellen Feldberg Gordon Fund for Research on Prevention of Eating Disorders and by the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders.
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Material provided by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Note: Content can be changed for style and length.
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