Adverse effects

Adverse effects

In the United States, manufacturers of dietary supplements are required to demonstrate safety of their products before approval is granted for commerce.Despite this caution, numerous adverse effects have been reported,including muscle cramps, hair loss, joint pain, liver disease, and allergic reactions, with 29% of the adverse effects resulting in hospitalization, and 20% in serious injuries or illnesses.By more than five-fold, the highest incidence of health problems derived from “combination products”, whereas supplements for vitamins and minerals, lipid products, and herbal products were less likely to cause adverse effects.

Among general reasons for the possible harmful effects of dietary supplements are: a) absorption in a short time, b) manufacturing quality and contamination, and c) enhancing both positive and negative effects at the same time. The incidence of liver injury from herbal and dietary supplements is about 16–20% of all supplement products causing injury, with the occurrence growing globally over the early 21st century. The most common liver injuries from weight loss and bodybuilding supplements involve hepatocellular damage with resulting jaundice, and the most common supplement ingredients attributed to these injuries are green tea catechins, anabolic steroids, and the herbal extract, aegeline.Weight loss supplements have also had adverse psychiatric effects.