Twelve Dietary Supplements To Avoid

Consumers may not realize there is no responsibility for manufacturers to show that dietary supplements are safe and effective. September 2010 Consumer Reports discusses twelve ingredients that consumers should avoid because they have been linked to health risks, including cardiovascular, liver, and kidney problems. These supplements are among those linked by research or case reports to "serious side effects" and that unless otherwise noted, there isn’t enough evidence to "rate their effectiveness for their purported uses", and that the list of dangers does not include all of them.

That of the 54,000 and more dietary supplement products listed in the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, only about a third have any scientific evidence to support some level of safety and effectiveness.

1. Aconite (other names include aconiti tuber, aconitum, radix aconiti), used for joint pain, inflammation, gout, wounds, is described as "unsafe" and has been linked to low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, heart rhythm problems, respiratory paralysis and death.
2. Bitter orange (aurantii fructus, Citrus aurantium, zhi shi), used for weight loss, allergies, nasal congestion, is "possibly unsafe" and has been linked with heart problems, stroke and death. If caffeine is taken at same time it can increase risks.
3. Chaparral (creosote bush, Larrea divaricata, larreastat), used for infections, detoxification, colds, weight loss, inflammation, cancer, is "likely unsafe", and has been linked to liver damage and kidney problems.
4. Collodial silver (ionic silver, native silver, silver in suspending agent), used for rosacea, psoriasis, Lyme disease, HIV/AIDS, food poisoning, chronic fatigue syndrome, fungal and other infections, is "likely unsafe" and has been linked with discoloration of the skin (bluish skin), mucous membrane, kidney damage, and neurological problems.
5. Coltsfoot (coughwort, farfarae folium leaf, foalswort), used to treat sore throat, cough, laryngitis, bronchitis, asthma, is "likely unsafe" and has been linked with liver damage and cancer.
6. Comfrey (blackwort, knitbone, common comfrey, slippery root), taken for heavy menstrual periods, coughs, chest pain and cancer, is "likely unsafe" and has been linked with liver damage and cancer.
7. Country mallow (heartleaf, Sida cordifolia, silky white mallow, malva blanca), used for allergies, asthma, weight loss, nasal congestion, bronchitis, is "likely unsafe" and has been linked with heart problems, stroke and death.
8. Germanium (Ge, Ge-132, germanium-132), taken for pain, infections, heart disease, glaucoma, liver problems, arthritis, osteoporosis, HIV/AIDS, cancer, is "likely unsafe" and has been linked with kidney damage and death.
9. Greater celandine (celandine, chelidonii herba, Chelidonium majus) used for cancer, liver disorders, detoxification, irritable bowel, and stomach upsets, is "possibly unsafe" and has been linked to liver damage.
10. Kava (awa, Piper methysticum, kava-kava) taken for anxiety ("possibly effective"), is "possibly unsafe" and has been linked with liver damage.
11. Lobelia (asthma weed, Lobelia inflata, pukeweed, vomit wort), taken for bronchitis, asthma, coughing, quitting smoking ("possibly ineffective"), is "likely unsafe" and that toxic overdose can cause very low blood pressure, fast heartbeat, coma and possibly death.
12. Yohimbe (yohimbine, Corynanthe yohimbi, Corynanthe johimbi) used as aphrodisiac and also taken for chest pain, diabetic complications, depression, erectile dysfunction ("possibly effective"); is "possibly unsafe" when used without doctor supervision because it contains the prescription drug yohimbine. Normal doses can cause high blood pressure and rapid heart beat, and high doses can result in severe low blood pressure, heart problems and death.
Consumer Reports developed the list with the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, an independent organization that researches and evaluates the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements. The data comes from the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, Professional Version, June 2010.