Chronicle Editorial Board

Some of the dietary supplements Nicholas Chrysanthou takes to deal with his over 80 food allergies, on the kitchen counter of his home in Houston, TX, June 28, 2017. (Michael Wyke / For the Chronicle)

Some of the dietary supplements Nicholas Chrysanthou takes to deal...

Health-conscious people may want to think twice before taking dietary supplements. Researchers have found a significant increase nationwide in calls to poison control centers related to vitamins, herbs and other supplements. These calls have increased along with the growth of supplement sales in the U.S.

Between 2000 and 2012, there have been around 275,000 calls about over-the-counter supplement exposure. The most serious of the poisoning cases often concerned young children, stricken with breathing problems and seizures. The Journal of Toxicology report found ma huang, yohimbe and energy products were associated with the greatest toxicity.

Over-the-counter dietary supplements are not held to the same rigorous safety standards as medications or food products. The lack of oversight can lead products to be contaminated, mislabeled or of inconsistent quality.

Some embrace supplements as offering a last bastion of freedom over what goes into their bodies. Many patients turn to herbal remedies for a natural approach to health care and to avoid costly medications.

However, without clinical trials and other safety precautions, consumers cant know the potential side effects of certain supplements, particularly when taken with other medications. The study results indicate a need for stronger oversight by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Politics has blocked that kind of oversight for years. So, at the very least, check with a doctor before deciding to be a human guinea pig.

This commentary is from The Chronicles Editorial Board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.

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Editorial: Why taking supplements can be risky - San Francisco Chronicle