News

Actions

15 supplement ingredients to always avoid

Posted
and last updated
Consumer Reports, with the help of an expert panel of independent doctors and dietary-supplement researchers, identified 15 supplement ingredients that are potentially harmful.
 
The risks of the identified supplement ingredients include organ damage, cancer, and cardiac arrest. The severity of these threats often depends on such factors as pre-existing medical conditions as well as the quantity of the ingredient taken and the length of time a person has been exposed to the substance.
 
Many of the ingredients on the list also have the potential to interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications, such as cholesterol-lowering statins and blood-thinning drugs like aspirin and warfarin (Coumadin and generic), according to Consumer Reports.
 

Ingredient

Claimed Benefits

Risks 

Aconite
Also called: Aconiti tuber, aconitum, angustifolium, monkshood, radix aconti, wolfsbane

Reduces inflammation, joint pain, gout

Nausea, vomiting, weakness, paralysis, breathing and heart problems, possibly death

Caffeine Powder
Also called: 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine

Improves attention, enhances athletic performance, weight loss

Seizures, heart arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, possibly death; particularly dangerous when combined with other stimulants

Chaparral
Also called: Creosote bush, greasewood, larrea divaricata, larrea tridentata, larreastat

Weight loss; improves inflammation; treats colds, infections, skin rashes, cancer

Kidney problems, liver damage, possibly death

Coltsfoot
Also called: Coughwort, farfarae folium leaf, foalswort, tussilago farfara

Relieves cough, sore throat, laryngitis, bronchitis, asthma

Liver damage, possible carcinogen

Comfrey
Also called: Blackwort, bruisewort, slippery root, symphytum officinale

Relieves cough, heavy menstrual periods, stomach problems, chest pain; treats cancer

Liver damage, cancer, possibly death

Germander
Also called: Teucrium chamaedrys, viscidum

Weight loss; alleviates fever, arthritis, gout, stomach problems

Liver damage, hepatitis, possibly death

Greater Celandine
Also called: Celandine, chelidonium majus, chelidonii herba

Alleviates stomachache

Liver damage

Green Tea Extract Powder
Also called: Camellia sinensis

Weight loss

Dizziness, ringing in the ears, reduced absorption of iron; exacerbates anemia and glaucoma; elevates blood pressure and heart rate; liver damage; possibly death

Kava
Also called: Ava pepper, kava kava, piper methysticum

Reduces anxiety, improves insomnia

Liver damage,exacerbates Parkinson's and depression, impairs driving, possibly death

Lobelia
Also called: Asthma weed, lobelia inflata, vomit wort, wild tobacco

Improves respiratory problems, aids smoking cessation

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, rapid heartbeat, confusion, seizures, hypothermia, coma, possibly death

Methylsynephrine
Also called: Oxilofrine, p-hydroxyephedrine, oxyephedrine, 4-HMP

Weight loss, increases energy, improves athletic performance

Causes heart rate and rhythm abnormalities, cardiac arrest; particularly risky when taken with other stimulants

Pennyroyal Oil
Also called: Hedeoma pulegioides, mentha pulegium

Improves breathing problems, digestive disorders

Liver and kidney failure, nerve damage, convulsions, possibly death

Red Yeast Rice
Also called: Monascus purpureus

Lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol, prevents heart disease

Kidney and muscle problems, liver problems, hair loss; can magnify effect of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, increasing the risk of side effects

Usnic Acid
Also called: Beard moss, tree moss, usnea

Weight loss, pain relief

Liver injury

Yohimbe
Also called: Johimbi, pausinystalia yohimbe, yohimbine, corynanthe johimbi

Treats low libido and erectile dysfunction, depression, obesity

Raises blood pressure; causes rapid heart rate, headaches, seizures, liver and kidney problems, heart problems, panic attacks, possibly death

 
 
Experts agree that none of these supplement ingredients provide sufficient health benefits to justify the risk. Even so, they found all 15 ingredients in products available online or in major stores such as GNC, Costco, CVS, Walmart, and Whole Foods. 
 
Fore more information on the selection of these ingredients, the  panel of dietary supplement experts, and how these products were shopped for download this PDF.