Don't believe everything you read on a label – especially if it's the label on an herbal supplement bottle you're holding in your hand. A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Bioinformatics found four out of five herbal supplements are not what they claim to be.
Unlike prescription drugs, there is no pharmaceutical oversight for herbal supplements. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires companies to verify their products are safe and properly labeled, but supplements are exempt from the strict approval process that prescription drugs must endure.
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"The big problem with the supplement industry is that there is no FDA oversight – at all," said Daniel Neides, MD, a wellness specialist at Cleveland Clinic. "Without any industry oversight, we cannot guarantee that what the label says on the bottle is actually in the bottle."
Researchers at Biodiversity Institute of Ontario tested 44 bottles of supplements sold by 12 companies. They found that 4 out of 5 bottles didn't contain herbs at all. Instead of containing the Echinacea or St. John's Wort touted on the label, the capsules were either diluted or replaced with substances like soybean, wheat, and rice.
If you do your research, though, there is hope in finding a safe and reputable brand. For instance, the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention independently tests supplements to ensure you're getting what you're paying for. Because of this,Neides says to only purchase brands that are clearly marked with the U-S-P label.
"This means that the supplement has been independently tested to prove that what you're getting is what the label actually says," said Neides.
While supplements are not reviewed and approved by the FDA, it's important to know that when taken with other herbs, supplements, or drugs, supplements may have powerful interactions. This would be similar to the side effects you might experience when mixing two prescription drugs.
"You need to know what is in each capsule," Neides warned. "If you're taking a multitude of supplements, you need to be careful. There could be supplement-to-supplement or supplement-to-drug interaction."
Researchers say mislabeled supplements could also be a health concern for people with allergies or those looking for gluten-free products.