A Warning About Pharmaceutical-Grade Supplements

Over the years, I have had people ask me about pharmaceutical-grade supplements.  Many of these folks have been told that since the vitamins were pharmaceutical-grade, they were of superior quality to all the other manufactured supplements.  I have always maintained that whole food supplements are the best type to purchase and that no supplement that is manufactured offers the body the quality of nutriceutical that whole food supplements offer.  All laboratory-constructed supplements contain no naturally-occurring phytonutrients that I believe are fundamental to optimum utilization by our bodies.
Therefore, one may imagine my interest in the following warning put out by the FDA concerning lab manufactured supplements:

FDA: Purity First Recalls Products Due To Undeclared Steroids

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Purity First Health Products has recalled several of its Healthy Life Chemistry products.

These include two lots of Healthy Life Chemistry B-50 (100 capsules), one lot of Healthy Life Chemistry Multi-Mineral (200 capsules), and all lots of Healthy Life Chemistry Vitamin C (200 capsules). The products are marketed as dietary supplements and come in white plastic bottles.

The recall was issued after the B-50 capsules were found to contain the controlled substance methasterone and dimethazine, which are both potentially harmful steroids. The Multi-Mineral and Vitamin C capsules were found to contain dimethyltestosterone. These ingredients were undeclared and were not included on the product labels.

All of the products were available nationwide through retail and the internet, and through retail stores from July 2012 to June 2013.

The FDA has received reports of side effects associated with the use of Healthy Life Chemistry B-50, including fatigue, muscle cramps, and muscle pain, as well as changes in cholesterol levels and in liver and thyroid function. Some women reported unusual hair growth and missed periods, while some men reported impotence and low testosterone levels.

Warning signs that may be associated with the use of steroids or steroid-like substances may include blood clots, sudden blockage in the lung artery, liver or kidney problems, and stroke. The FDA advises consumers who experience symptoms to consult a health care professional and to submit a report to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.

References

1. Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com
2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). www.fda.gov

 

 I hope all of you had the opportunity to watch 60 Minutes last night concerning their story about the many compounding facilities around this country that are potentially manufacturing deadly medicines, including steroids, like the one located in Massachusetts.  Congress took away FDA oversight of the compounding facilities in 1998 and we are now potentially facing more deaths due to this lack of inspection power.  In my opinion, we are relying much too much on pharmaceuticals and not enough upon wholesome foods and supplements to maintain our health.

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