Are Dietary Supplements Safe?

As a result of the deaths related to ephedra, the FDA now requires that any adverse effects of dietary supplements be reported to its Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Supplements. As a result, during a six-month period, the agency received 604 reports of adverse side effects, ranging from uncertainty about whether the product was performing as expected, to death. The supplements included vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs, and enzymes. The FDA currently does not approve the production of dietary supplements and therefore cannot guarantee the safety, quality, or purity of their contents. USAToday, Sept. 22, 2008 
2008-09-28 12:39:21