Herbal Supplements

[Tracey MunsonParticipant]

Natural medicine seems like it’s becoming more of a trend lately. I was wondering what the pro’s and con’s are to herbal supplements. Are they safe? How do they differ from other supplements? Do they have any specific benefits?

[KimberleeParticipant]

Herbal supplements are a growing trend and the claimed benefits are quite vast. The results of studies that look at their benefits or risks vary greatly. For instance, Dhingra et al found one herbal supplement to help with mild to moderate depression(1) while other studies discuss risks like liver damage (2) or lowered immune function (3). The risk of developing these problems also vary for the individual based on external factors such as age, gender, the use of other supplements or medicines, genetics, or alcohol use (2). Another thing that makes determining the risks and benefits of herbal supplements difficult is the fact that safety information on labels is either included or omitted at the discretion of the producer of the supplements (4) and that production of supplements and ingredients vary between manufacturers (2). The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics puts it this way: anything that sounds too good to be true, probably is. Nothing magically burns fat or alters your genetics (5). Use discretion as you use supplements and don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about questions you may have.

References

1. Dhingra S, Parle M. Herbal Remedies and Nutritional Supplements in the Treatment of Depression: A Review. Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bulteni [serial online]. September 2012;22(3):286-292. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed March 2, 2015.

2. Korth C. Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity of Select Herbal Therapies. Journal Of Pharmacy Practice [serial online]. December 2014;27(6):567-572. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed March 2, 2015.

3. Beat the Bug. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. http://www.eatright.org/resource/health/wellness/preventing-illness/beat-the-bug. Published January 2014. Accessed March 2, 2015.

4. Gallo E, Giocaliere E, Vannacci A, et al. Anything to declare? Possible risks for patients’ health resulting from undeclared plants in herbal supplements. British Journal Of Clinical Pharmacology [serial online]. March 2012;73(3):482-483. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed March 2, 2015.

5. Staying Away from Fad Diets. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. http://www.eatright.org/resource/health/weight-loss/fad-diets/staying-away-from-fad-diets. Published February 2014. Accessed March 2, 2015.

[Tracey MunsonParticipant]

Kimberlee, thank you for your well researched reply. I guess it’s pretty difficult to get a conclusive answer for a topic so vast as dietary supplements. As with most nutritional research, there’s going to be some studies showing benefits, and others showing negative side affects. I was also concerned about the regulation. I read in a study review of herbal supplement regulation, and it sounds like it is a pretty unregulated territory (1). Producers are often adding other drugs to their herbal supplements to intensify their effect (1). Consumers don’t always know what they’re getting, which seems a violation of consumer rights. I think some policy changes definitely need to be made in regards to regulating not just herbal supplements, but all supplements in general.

Reference:
1. Vaclavik L, Krynitsky AJ, Rader JI. Mass spectrometric analysis of pharmaceutical adulterants in products labeled as botanical dietary supplements or herbal remedies: a review. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2014;406:6767-6790.

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