15 Supplement Ingredients to Always Avoid
These supplement ingredients can cause organ damage, cardiac arrest, and cancer
With the help of an expert panel of independent doctors and dietary-supplement researchers, Consumer Reports identified 15 supplement ingredients that are potentially harmful. The risks include organ damage, cancer, and cardiac arrest. The severity of these threats often depends on such factors as pre-existing medical conditions as well as the quantity of the ingredient taken and the length of time a person has been exposed to the substance.
Many of the ingredients on this list also have the potential to interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications, such as cholesterol-lowering statins and blood-thinning drugs like aspirin and warfarin (Coumadin and generic).
Moreover, our experts agree that none of these supplement ingredients provide sufficient health benefits to justify the risk. Even so, we found all 15 ingredients in products available online or in major stores such as GNC, Costco, CVS, Walmart, and Whole Foods. (Download this PDF to find out more about how we selected these ingredients, our panel of dietary supplement experts, and how we shopped for products.)
Also called: Aconiti tuber, aconitum, angustifolium, monkshood, radix aconti, wolfsbane
Reduces inflammation, joint pain, gout
Nausea, vomiting, weakness, paralysis, breathing and heart problems, possibly death
Also called: 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine
Improves attention, enhances athletic performance, weight loss
Seizures, heart arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, possibly death; particularly dangerous when combined with other stimulants
Also called: Creosote bush, greasewood, larrea divaricata, larrea tridentata, larreastat
Weight loss; improves inflammation; treats colds, i nfections, skin rashes, cancer
Kidney problems, liver damage, possibly death
Also called: Coughwort, farfarae folium leaf, foalswort, tussilago farfara
Relieves cough, sore throat, laryngitis, bronchitis, asthma
Liver damage, possible carcinogen
Also called: Blackwort, bruisewort , slippery root , symphytum officinale
Relieves cough, heavy menstrual periods, stomach problems, chest pain; treats cancer
Liver damage, cancer, possibly death
A lso called: Teucrium chamaedrys, viscidum
Weight loss; alleviates fever, arthritis, gout, stomach problems
Liver damage, hepatitis, possibly death
A lso called: Celandine, chelidonium majus, chelidonii herba
Green Tea Extract Powder
A lso called: Camellia sinensis
Dizziness, ringing in the ears, reduced absorption of iron; exacerbates anemia and glaucoma; elevates blood pressure and heart rate; liver damage; possibly death
Also called: Ava pepper, kava kava, piper methysticum
Reduces anxiety, improves insomnia
Liver damage,exacerbates Parkinson's and depression, impairs driving, possibly death
A lso called: Asthma weed, lobelia inflata, vomit wort, wild tobacco
Improves respiratory problems, aids smoking cessation
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, rapid heartbeat, confusion, seizures, hypothermia, coma, possibly death
A lso called: Oxilofrine, p-hydroxyephedrine, oxyephedrine, 4-HMP
Weight loss, increases energy, improves athletic performance
Causes heart rate and rhythm abnormalities, cardiac arrest; particularly risky when taken with other stimulants
A lso called: Hedeoma pulegioides, mentha pulegium
Improves breathing problems, digestive disorders
Liver and kidney failure, nerve damage, convulsions, possibly death
A lso called: Monascus purpureus
Lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol, prevents heart disease
Kidney and muscle problems, liver problems, hair loss; can magnify effect of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, increasing the risk of side effects
Also called: Beard moss, tree moss, usnea
Weight loss, pain relief
A lso called: Johimbi, pausinystalia yohimbe, yohimbine, corynanthe johimbi
Treats low libido and erectile dysfunction, depression, obesity
Raises blood pressure; causes rapid heart rate, headaches, seizures, liver and kidney problems, heart problems, panic attacks, possibly death
If you or someone in your family experience an adverse event after taking a dietary supplement, report it to the FDA.
More on Dietary Supplements
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