Supplements are used to add vitamins and minerals to one's diet. Supplements are often seen as beneficial, especially if taken at recommended dosages. Some supplements though carry health risks. A study has found that hidden dangers might be found in supplements.
Herbal supplements today are popular. Most people don't find them to be harmful since most think they are organic or plant-based. A study though has found that herbal supplements have hidden ingredients which many people might not be aware of.
A team of researchers led by Emeritus Professor Duncan Burns He is an analytical chemist from Queen's University Belfast's Institute for Global Food Security and has been looking into ingredients that have been found in some herbal supplements. The team also has Dr. Michael Walker from the Government Chemist Programme at LGC and Professor Declan Naughton from Kingston University as members. The team has found that certain herbal supplements have ingredients not listed on their labels.
Professor Burns has said that the team has studied herbal supplements worldwide and has questioned some of them. He has also said that buyers are not aware of these hidden ingredients which can be found in some of the herbal supplements. Some people might be taking large amounts of the herbal supplements, not knowing of the hidden ingredients in them.
Some of the herbal supplements are said to aid in slimming. Some of them are found to contain Sibutramine. Sibutramine has been used until 2010 before being withdrawn in the US and Europe because it has been found to cause strokes and heart attack, according to Queen's University Belfast's site.
Other ingredients that have been found include tadalafil and sulfoaildenafil. These ingredients have been found in supplements that claim to help in erectile dysfunction. Supplements that have them when taken together with medicine containing nitrates can drastically lower blood pressure, which can lead to complications, as Science Daily reports.
Professor Burns has added that people might become ill taking the herbal supplements. Once they see a doctor they will not be able to point out that the supplements are the culprit, and doctors might not be able to make the proper diagnosis as well. The researchers have said that the study would be able to help regulators to look into herbal supplements and make the necessary guidelines.
Herbal supplements can be beneficial, but some of them have ingredients which can lead to health issues. A study has said that hidden dangers might be found in supplements. A cancer medicine has been found to regenerate heart tissue recently.
