Leo
More on this topic resulting from the recent articles in the New England J of Medicine. Specifically, an article in NYTimes (9-22-98):
".....Dr. Lori Love ...at the FDA ...'there are currently no federal regulations that establish specific criteria for purity, identification and manufacturing procedures of dietary supplements.' In other words, producers can put in just about anything they wan, including no active ingredient at all, and there is no guarantee that what is says on the label is what is in the bottle. An analysis of ginseng products, for example, revealed up to a 10-fold difference in the amount of active ingredient, even though all were labled as containing the same amount.
Nor is the producer required to maintain pharmaceutical standards in making the product, which could end up..[and have]...with all manner of contaminants. In 1990, 36 people died and at least 1500 became seriously ill after taking....L-tryptophan, which was subsequently found to contain 63 contaminants and pulled from the market.
Furthermore, the drug agency researchers noted, 'there are no requirements for mandatory reporting to the FDA of adverse events by the manufacturer or distributor...'
The editors [of NE J Med] call for rigorous testing of all products stating, 'It is time for the scientific community to stop giving alternative medicine a free ride.' "
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Of course, testing would also be extremely helpful to genuinely dedicated developers and distributors of dietary supplements to distinguish the effects of contaminants from active ingredients, as well as for eliminating contaminants.
Well, Leo, I would say PRLN and BIOfit are ready.
Larry |
