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Published on: June 5, 2016
Adverse events associated with dietary supplements: an observational study
Mary E Palmer1, Christine Haller, Patrick E McKinney
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Landspitali University Hospital, Fossvogi, 108, Reykjavík, Iceland. mpalmer@landspitali.is
Lancet (London, England)
|January 18, 2003
Summary
Adverse events from dietary supplements are common and can be severe, affecting all ages. Monitoring these risks is challenging due to limited information and complex product ingredients, necessitating further research.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Public Health
- Pharmacovigilance
Background:
- Dietary supplements in the USA lack pre-market registration, hindering monitoring of content and safety.
- Limited information on supplement composition and potential risks complicates adverse event tracking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess adverse events associated with dietary supplement ingestions.
- To identify factors influencing symptom severity, including multiple ingredients and long-term use.
- To evaluate the completeness of information resources for poison control centers.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 2332 calls to 11 poison control centers regarding 1466 dietary supplement ingestions.
- A rigorous review process identified 489 cases with probable associations between adverse events and supplements.
- Data collection focused on ingredient effects, duration of use, and information resource availability.
Main Results:
- One-third of reported events were of significant severity, including myocardial infarction, liver failure, seizures, and death.
- Increased severity correlated with multiple ingredients, prolonged use, and patient age.
- Many products/ingredients were unidentified in poison control databases, and adverse event reporting varied across sources.
Conclusions:
- Dietary supplements are linked to adverse events across all severity levels, organ systems, and age demographics.
- Verifying ingredient-adverse event associations is difficult due to multi-ingredient products and inadequate information systems.
- Prioritizing research into dietary supplement hazards and risks is crucial for public safety.
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