Whats really in supplements?
Research summary of a recently published paper Presence and Quantity of Botanical Ingredients With Purported Performance-Enhancing Properties in Sports Supplements
Background
The manufacture and sales of dietary supplements is poorly regulated.
Medicines must be approved by the FDA in the US and the MHRA and EMA in the UK before they can be sold or marketed but supplements do not require this approval.
Supplement companies are responsible for having evidence that their products are safe, and the label claims are truthful and not misleading.
So, what is actually in the supplements we take? Can we trust the labels?
This study looked to find out!
The Study - what did they do?
This study included 57 sports specific dietary supplements (purchased online) in the US promoted on their labels by their manufacturers for fat loss or sports performance enhancement.
The investigators examined the quantity of components in supplement samples. In addition to looking for the substances claimed on the label, the investigators analyzed the samples for 9,403 compounds that may be hidden or inadvertently included in dietary supplements.
An Overview of the Findings
40% of the supplements did not contain any of the ingredient claimed.
84% of the supplements did not contain the correct amount of the ingredient claimed.
Only 16% contained close to the amount (i.e., within 10%) of the ingredient claimed on the label.
12% contained at least 1 ingredient prohibited by the FDA.
Important Take Aways
The supplement industry is poorly regulated and many supplements may not have the correct amounts in them as claimed on the label.
If you are taking supplements make sure they are really necessary (evidence based/recommended by an IBD specialist nutritionist/dietitian). There is so much misinformation online about supplements for IBD and there are actually very few who have evidence to support the claims. Some supplements may also interact with your IBD medication and make them less effective so always check with your IBD team before starting a new supplement.
If you do need to take supplements ensure they are well formulated (by a Dietitian/Nutritionist not an influencer or celebrity!) and, if you can, purchase a product/brand that is third party tested to confirm it actually provides what is says on the tin!
If you would like support with your IBD, whether you need to take supplements and, if so, which are the best ones to take, we can help you.
We are a nutrition and dietetics clinic specialising providing exceptional care to improve the quality of life of people living with IBD. We bring clarity around food and IBD and remove uncertainty and fear around food.
Our IBD specialist Nutritionist (Clemmie) and specialist gastroenterology and IBD Dietician (Jess) both have IBD too so ‘get it’ and are so passionate about helping others with IBD.
If you would like support with your IBD please book a free initial call via the button below so we can find out more about you, discuss how we can help and take you through our appointment options.
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We are all wonderfully unique and what works for one person may not work for another so please seek help and advice before changing your diet to work out the right way forward for you.
Reference
Cohen PA, Avula B, Katragunta K, Travis JC, Khan I. Presence and Quantity of Botanical Ingredients With Purported Performance-Enhancing Properties in Sports Supplements. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Jul 3;6(7):e2323879. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.23879. PMID: 37459101; PMCID: PMC10352857.