There are lots of reasons you might take a dietary supplement — to feel healthy, to feel younger, to manage pain, or just to get more nutrients. But while some supplements have proven benefits, some may not work the way their ads claim, and others might be downright dangerous for your health. Yes, even the ones that claim to be “all-natural.”
Today, the FTC along with other federal agencies announced a joint sweep of actions against companies that have misled people about the safety, effectiveness, or contents of their dietary supplements. Specifically, the FTC brought cases against marketers who didn’t have scientific proof that their supplements worked. We’ve written about some of these cases before, which included ads claiming certain supplements could help you:
- lose weight without diet or exercise
- permanently remove or prevent growth of gray hair
- reverse 10-15 years of memory loss
- treat children’s speech disorders
Additionally, the FTC just announced a new case against Sunrise Nutraceuticals. The company claimed its supplement, Elimidrol, could help people overcome opiate addiction and withdrawal. But according to the FTC’s complaint, those claims aren’t backed by science.
What can you take away from all of these cases? Be skeptical about ads promising miraculous results just by taking a dietary supplement. If you decide to take a supplement, talk to your doctor first to make sure it’s safe and right for you. This is especially important if you have a medical condition, take other medicines, or plan to have surgery.
What else can you do? Share this blog post and infographic with your family and friends, and check out our article on dietary supplements for more information.
