Related Experiment Videos
Ilaria Ippoliti1, Roberto Da Cas1, Giuseppe Marano1
1Reparto di farmacoepidemiologia e farmacosorveglianza, Centro Nazionale Ricerca e Valutazione preclinica e clinica dei Farmaci, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma.
Recenti Progressi in Medicina
|November 17, 2024
Summary
This study analyzed adverse reactions to dietary supplements, particularly those bought online. Gastrointestinal and central nervous system issues were most common, highlighting the need for better online safety data.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacovigilance
- Dietary Supplement Safety
- Online Health Products
Context:
- The rise of e-commerce has increased access to dietary supplements.
- Concerns exist regarding the safety and regulation of supplements purchased online.
- The Italian Phytovigilance System collects reports on adverse reactions.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the safety profile of dietary supplements.
- To specifically assess supplements purchased online or reported via internet platforms.
- To identify common adverse reactions associated with these products.
Summary:
- Analysis of 129 reports (6% of 2,367) from the Italian Phytovigilance System involving online purchases or web-reported adverse reactions (ARs).
- Most frequent ARs affected the gastrointestinal tract (31.4%) and central nervous system (17.6%).
- Supplements were commonly used for sleep disorders (19%) and prostate issues (14%).
Impact:
- Highlights the Italian Phytovigilance System as a key resource for monitoring online dietary supplement risks.
- Underscores the need for improved data quality in pharmacovigilance reporting for internet-sourced products.
- Informs consumers and regulatory bodies about potential safety concerns associated with online dietary supplement purchases.