Supplements promise results, pose risks

  • Published
  • By Army Sgt. Frank Magni
  • 17th Public Affairs Detachment
BAGRAM AIR BASE, AFGHANISTAN (AFPN) --  The path to fitness, weight loss and nutrition requires discipline and hard work, but many are turning to supplements to find a faster route to these goals, health officials said.

Easily purchased over the counter, many supplements promise an extra edge. But with their promises come potential long- and short-term side effects, along with the extra expense.

Still an under-regulated industry, supplements make certain claims that are in many ways unfounded, said Dr. (Lt. Col.) Brent Smith, an emergency room doctor for the 325th Combat Support Hospital here.

“For many of these supplements there is still no scientific evidence they will perform as advertised,” said Dr. Smith.

Along with making claims that aren’t substantiated by science, supplements also lack study into the undesired side effects.

“Within the supplemental food and nutrition industry, many times you don’t know what you’re taking,” said Dr. Smith. “There is still limited scientific study into the long- and short-term side effects (of) many over-the-counter supplements.”

While there is little support for many of the positive claims of supplement companies, there are ample studies that reveal the negative effects of some, he said.

Dr. Smith said many people think supplements are safe because companies call their products all-natural.

“All-natural does not imply safeness,” he said. “There are many natural ingredients that can be very harmful to your health. We do know that long term overuse of vitamin A causes kidney damage.

"Huge protein load can also cause kidney and liver damage,” he said of some of the common contents of dietary supplements.

And while many servicemembers are turning to supplements to reach desired effects with their body, many of them are ignoring simple solutions.

“There is no replacement for a balanced diet,” said Spc. Brian Messner, 325th CSH nutritionist. “If you need to lose weight or even build muscle, there are many ways to achieve these goals through diet.”

Specialist Messner said he sees many servicemembers getting their nutrition advice from the wrong people.

“Just because you meet a guy in the gym who has (had) positive effects from taking a supplement, this doesn’t mean it will have the same effects for you,” said Specialist Messner. “Each person is different. Factors like age, gender, weight and even ethnic background can have different effects for the same supplement.”

Both Dr. Smith and Specialist Messner recommend a person should consult a doctor if he or she insists on taking supplements, not a friend or gym buddy.

For some supplements, this is a requirement. Supplements containing the ingredient Androstenedione, which are currently available over-the-counter, will soon be available only by prescription. Effective Jan. 20, it will be illegal to possess any supplement containing Androstenedione without a prescription from a doctor.

In addition to consulting a doctor, people should do their own research into the specific supplement, Specialist Messner said. Research should include reading and strictly following the label of each supplement.

“Taking twice the recommended dosage won’t double the effect,” he said. “In fact, overuse can be very dangerous.”

Another important element in supplement use is proper hydration.

“In addition to taking proper dosage, hydration is one of the most important things when taking supplements,” said Dr. Smith.

The doctor reminds people that while proper diet and exercise will ultimately yield the best results for anybody trying to improve their health, there are some ways supplements can help.

Taking a multi-vitamin can help some people compensate for what they don’t get from eating.

“A simple once-a-day vitamin makes empirical sense if you don’t have a diverse diet,” Dr. Smith said.

While the path to weight loss and the perfect body through supplements offers many benefits, Specialist Messner said, it is important to pay attention to overall health.

“Many supplements help people achieve short-term goals,” he said. “If you are really serious about your goals, supplements will only play a small part of your success.”