If you’re popping weight loss, muscle building or sexual enhancement pills in a mindless bid to look like a particular celebrity then STOP immediately, because according to a recent study published in ‘JAMA Open’ found that most diet supplements available in the US allegedly contained unapproved and banned ingredients, some of these supplements are also sold in India.
In the study, conducted from 2007-2016 researchers found that the pills contained unapproved pharmaceutical ingredients like sildenafil, sibutramine and synthetic steroids which could cause side effects from stroke to kidney failure, and even death. The data was analysed and taken from US Food And Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
According to Dr Anoop Misra, Chairman, Fortis C-Doc, the problem is much larger in India, as the dietary supplement market here is largely unregulated and don’t follow any guidelines. Dietary supplements are not tested or sampled and can be bought easily without any guidelines.