Health Hazards from Dietary Supplements

Some ingredients in dietary supplements may pose health hazards. That’s the conclusion of a review by Consumer Reports working in collaboration with the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. The so-called “dirty dozen” include herbs and minerals. For example, bitter orange has replaced a banned herb called ephedra in many natural weight loss and energy supplements. But bitter orange may itself be associated with heart rhythm problems, heart attacks and strokes, the same sorts of cardiovascular problems that got ephedra banned. Another perennial problem is the herb comfrey, which is popular for a range of problems such as cough, joint pain and excessive menstrual flow. But comfrey can damage the liver when taken internally. Some of the other herbs to be wary of include coltsfoot, lobelia and yohimbe.
[Consumer Reports, September, 2010]