Dietary supplements: some can be dangerous, alert 60 million consumers

Food supplements are supposed to strengthen the body and strengthen our defenses against viruses. 60 Million consumers sifted 120 of them, in different forms. According to the association, these supplements are to be used sparingly and cautiously. Misused, they can be ineffective, even dangerous for health.

Dietary supplements, concentrates of nutrients or other substances, are more and more consumed in France. The market accounted for 1.9 billion euros in 2018. But according to a special issue of 60 million consumers, published Thursday, October 10, and which sifts 120 of these products, their use is not trivial. The presence of additives in these supplements, the cocktail effect if we consume several or their contraindication with certain drugs, should encourage consumers to be cautious.

What are food supplements?

According to the National Agency for Food Safety, Environment and Labor (ANSES), food supplements mean "foods whose purpose is to supplement the normal diet and which constitute a concentrated source nutrients or other substances having a nutritional or physiological effect alone or in combination ... ". The health authority refers to Directive 2002/46 / EC of the European Parliament, transposed into French law by Decree No. 2006-352 of 20 March 2006.

These substitutes are credited with virtues that are supposed to improve our health. Depending on their specificities, dietary supplements may strengthen the body, strengthen its immunity, reduce stress, facilitate weight loss and relieve some of the inconveniences of menopause or pregnancy. These substances are marketed in different forms: capsules, powders, liquid preparations (syrup, ampoules ...).

The permitted ingredients are regulated at national and European level. It is about vitamins, minerals and plants, whose maximum daily doses must be respected. These products are subject to controls by the Directorate of Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), as for other foodstuffs.

However, unlike drugs, the marketing of food supplements does not require individual marketing authorization. The latter involves the prior evaluation by a body of expertise of a file submitted by the manufacturer of the product.

What do they blame for 60 million consumers?

After screening 120 products, the association believes that "while some are interesting, others may, on the contrary, be likely to cause certain disorders or aggravate pathologies . "

60 Million consumers explain that too many additives are added in some products: among them the allura red dye, "which promotes hyperactivity in children" , or titanium dioxide, a controversial molecule that will be banned in food , as of January 2020.

Moreover, the body alert on the cocktail effect, in case of consumption of several of these supplements. "It's very complicated to measure all the synergies between the different ingredients. "

Overdose of some vitamins can also lead to complications. This is the case of vitamin C which too much intake can harm the liver and kidneys which will then eliminate it. Consuming other types of vitamins such as B6 or B12 over the long term can also be harmful, especially to the nervous system.

The ingredients of some dietary supplements are also likely to cause side effects. 60 Million consumers cite the example of essential oils, which can trigger epileptic seizures. Finally some products have contraindications with certain drugs. This is particularly the case of grapefruit, or its seeded seed extract to prevent winter colds.

Is this call for caution new?

Since 2009, ANSES has set up a nutrivigilance system in the context of the Hospital, Patients, Health and Territories Act, the purpose of which is to monitor the adverse effects related to the consumption of food supplements and other food products. such as fortified foods or new foods for a particular diet (infants, athletes, patients with food intolerance ...).

Several studies have highlighted the need to consume food supplements with reason and parsimony.

Last February, the Academy of Pharmacy devoted a report to herbal dietary supplements. It recalled that some had effects similar to drugs without being so well supervised and warned against a potentially risky misuse (consumption of several products, exceeding the recommended doses). It also alerted to the dangers of those containing aloe juice or rhubarb roots, used for their laxative effect.

Last year, ANSES pointed out that food supplements containing melatonin, which are supposed to make you sleep better, carry risks of side effects (vertigo, irritability, tremors, migraines, nausea ...).

"By definition, a dietary supplement can not have or claim therapeutic effects," ANSES reminds on its website. Especially since several studies have concluded, for the vast majority of vitamin or mineral supplements, lack of interest proved.

What precautions to take?

ANSES insists that the consumption of food supplements must remain informed. According to the health authority "intake deficits and a fortiori nutrient deficiencies are very rare in the general population and only concern Vitamin D" . However, certain categories of the population, such as pregnant women, children and the elderly, may have deficiencies requiring the use of supplements.

In general, a varied and balanced diet associated with an adapted physical activity must make it possible to cover its needs, underlines ANSES.

When taking dietary supplements, she recommends avoiding "prolonged, repeated or multiple" intakes during the year without seeking the advice of a health professional; to respect "scrupulously" the conditions of use fixed by the manufacturer; to report to a health professional any adverse effects and finally, to privilege "the supply circuits controlled by the public authorities" .

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