The FDA recently issued a recall after steroids were found in one brand of supplements. However, there are some things you can do to keep you and your family safe.
The choices are endless.
"I think for consumers , it is really a challenge," Kenneth Spaeth, MD, MPH, Director of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, North Shore-LIJ Health System, told Ivanhoe.
It's a challenge to find vitamins and supplements that work and won't hurt you.
"I think that's how you really empower yourself," Lynn Fuchs, consumer, told Ivanhoe.
"I would rather pay the extra dollar in case there's a problem," Marc Bendeth, consumer, told Ivanhoe.
Dr. Kenneth Spaeth recently noticed a problem. About 20 of his patients, who were taking the same brand and type of supplements, were all getting sick. Some men lost their libido. Some women's voices became deeper and they grew facial hair.
"They didn't know what was happening to them," Dr. Spaeth said.
Dr. Spaeth says he suspected that three Healthy Life Chemistry Supplements-B-50, multi-mineral, and vitamin c-all had contaminants and the signs were consistent with the presence of steroids. His suspicions led to a national recall.
Howard Chasser owns a health food store and says that you need to be careful.
"There are some bad players out there like any other industry," Chasser said.
Chasser offers you three safety tips: First, choose a well-known brand. There are brands that contract the manufacturing process out, but many companies that do this have significantly less control over the quality of their products.
Also, do your research. If the bottle says "manufactured for," then you can start by calling the contractor for information on raw materials used.
"Ask questions," Chasser said, and also be critical. If the claims on the bottle sound too good to be true, Chasser says, they probably are.
"There's no magic pill," Chasser said.
Dr. Spaeth advises that you always check with your doctor before taking any vitamin or supplement.
You can find out more about the vitamin recall at: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm363374.htm.
BACKGROUND: The FDA announced that most of the vitamins marketed by Purity First Health First Products Inc. are subject to voluntary recall for containing anabolic steroids. The Long Island owner, Candice Tripp, who ran Purity First for years, was asked by the FDA to voluntarily recall her Healthy Life Chemistry B-50 vitamins in the 100-capsule container from the market. Now, the voluntary recall has expanded to include her 200-capsule multi-mineral product and the 200-capsule containers of vitamin C. The FDA isolated two anabolic steroids in the B-50 vitamins, dimethazine and methasterone. Methasterone can cause physiological harm and is also a Class III controlled substance, meaning it carries a moderate risk of physical or psychological dependence. (Source: http://www.newsday.com/news/health/recall-of-purity-first-vitamins-widens-1.5821131)
DOCTOR SPAETH: Dr. Kenneth Spaeth, director of occupational and environmental medicine at the North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System, linked the vitamins to the illnesses in February 2013. He notified the FDA and local health authorities. He diagnosed anabolic steroid-related symptoms in 20 patients. The additional nine were reported as adverse events to the FDA. Women reported a loss of menstrual periods, hair loss and lowering of their voices. Men reported a loss of libido and low testosterone. Patients ranged from 12 to 75. "It's time to have a broader discussion about the safety and quality of supplements," Dr. Spaeth was quoted as saying. An earlier study found that dietary supplements account for more than half of the FDA's major recalls between 2004 and 2012. (Source: http://www.newsday.com/news/health/recall-of-purity-first-vitamins-widens-1.5821131)
WAYS TO STAY SAFE: Howard Chasser, owner of Jandi's Natural Market, says one way to stay safe is to search the consumerlabs.com website because they do 3rd party independent testing. The Natural Products Association website also has good consumer dietary supplement information. Also, he says to ask questions like:
1) Is the product manufactured by or for the brand?
2) Is the company that manufactures the product GMP certified? If they are, it means that they adhere to quality manufacturing processes established and enforced by the FDA.
3) Do they do raw materials testing? Could you get me a copy of a raw materials testing sheet for the product I am interested in?
4) Do they do finished product testing? Could you get me a copy of a finished products testing sheet for the product I am interested in?
5) Does it sound too good to be true? If so, it almost always is. Dietary supplement companies are not allowed to make unsubstantiated claims for their products. The FTC and FDA have enforcement powers given to them by the enactment of DSHEA (The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994) by congress to go after companies that break the law. (Source: Howard Chasser)
For more information, contact:
Howard Chasser
Owner of Jandi's Natural Market
(516) 536-5535
howard@jandis.com