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Warning on Food Supplements
This is not the first action by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) in response to supplements that could pose a health risk. Nor will it be the last.
In recent years, the NVWA has received various signals regarding the presence of pharmacologically active substances in food supplements. Through the European RASFF reporting system, over 60 reports were received between 2010 and 2014. The reports mainly concerned supplements used for weight loss such as ‘fat burners,’ performance-enhancing agents (‘pre-workouts’), or libido enhancers. This prompted the NVWA to investigate this type of food supplements on the Dutch market. A total of 160 samples were taken. Of the 42 samples of libido-enhancing supplements, 32 samples tested positive; of the 118 samples of weight loss preparations, ‘fat burners,’ and ‘pre-workout products,’ 66 samples tested positive [1,2].
When we talk about ‘pharmacologically active substances,’ think mainly of substances like sildenafil, sibutramine, and amphetamine-like substances such as synephrine and caffeine.
Reactions among readers will vary from “Good, go after those crooks!” to “Damn! How can I still get my favorite pre-workout?” In many cases, they indeed noticed results they didn’t get with ‘safer supplements’.
A concrete example given is sildenafil. In the case of sildenafil, the amounts found were equal to or even greater than the maximum dosage a doctor would prescribe. Not surprising if it does more for you than just some horny goat weed. If you don’t know this is in the product and you also get sildenafil on prescription, you end up with a double dose.
Therefore, the NVWA repeats once again that food supplements are often unnecessary. I would like to nuance this; bullshit supplements are unnecessary in all cases. Stick to the basics. If you don’t have unrealistic expectations of a supplement, the manufacturer doesn’t need to pull tricks to make you bounce in the gym.
References
- nvwa.nl/nieuws-en-media/nieuws/2017/05/26/nvwa-veel-voedingssupplementen-bevatten-farmacologisch-actieve-stoffen
- nvwa.nl/binaries/nvwa/documenten/communicatie/inspectieresultaten/eten-drinken/2017m/onderzoek-voedingssupplementen-met-farmacologisch-actieve-stoffen/Onderzoek+Voedingssupplementen+met+farmacologisch+actieve+stoffen+.pdf
