With college students leading busy lives filled with school, work, social and family obligations, some have begun turning to unregulated dietary supplements to help them through the day.
According to a Reuters Health magazine survey, nearly half of college students surveyed indicated taking a dietary supplement in the past year, excluding herbs and vitamins.
Students are taking the supplements for a variety of reasons, including to build muscle, boost energy, prevent disease or lose weight.
But because the supplements do not need approval from the Food and Drug Administration before being marketed, manufacturers are responsible for ensuring the supplements’ safety.
Dr. Timothy Honigman, Student Health Center chief of staff, said he thought college students’ use of dietary supplements could be dangerous to their health.
Honigman said one of the main concerns is that taking supplements can worsen existing medical conditions that students may not know about.
Honigman said although he has seen some minor cases of side effects from taking dietary supplements, he has not seen any severe incidents at the University.
In recent years, the FDA has issued warnings about supplements including LipoKinetix, a weight-loss product that has been associated with liver damage and St. John’s Wort, which can have harmful interactions with other drugs.
In addition, the FDA announced plans late last year to prohibit sales of supplements containing ephedra, designed to aid in weight loss, enhance sports performance and increase energy.
The government hopes to remove ephedra from store shelves by April. It will mark the first time the government has banned a dietary supplement.
The ban comes after ephedra has been linked to 155 deaths and several strokes and heart attacks nationwide.
Students had various opinions about the supplements.
Jeremy Langlois, a political science junior, said he thought some supplements could be dangerous, especially since doctors are not entirely certain of long-term effects.
Jennifer Krumm, an international studies senior, said the danger depended on what the supplement contained.
“It depends on what’s
in it,” Krumm
said. “There’s some strange stuff out there.”
The FDA advises everyone to consult with a physician before taking any type of supplement and to visit a doctor immediately if they feel they are experiencing any side effects.