Weight-loss supplements may cause more harm than good – The San Diego Union-Tribune

Health experts urge buyers to beware of any company’s claim of a wonder drug for weight-loss. — THINKSTOCKPHOTOS.COM

As a weight-loss surgeon at Tri-City Medical Center, Dr. Karen Hanna knows that dieting is difficult. It takes work, dedication, overcoming hunger, and finding time and energy to exercise.

Not to mention a hefty dose of willpower to resist when temptation presents itself.

As a result, she knows that many dieters turn to weight-loss supplements that can be found online or on the shelves of most drug or department stores.

The problem is that while such products are often touted as natural and come with promises of results, supplements are not regulated and often have been found to be ineffective and in some cases to be harmful.

“People are looking for anything that will make it easier,” Dr. Hanna said. “The problem is that supplements only work with changes in eating habits combined with exercise, and give only small increases in weight loss.”

Dr. Morton Tavel, clinical professor emeritus at Indiana University School of Medicine and author of the ebook “Health Tips, Myths and Tricks: A Physician’s Advice,’” said he sees ads almost daily for “miracle” supplements claiming to reduce weight without dieting.

Dr. Tavel said notable examples include saffron extract, Garcinia Cambogia, green coffee-bean extract, Hydroxycut, HCG Diet Direct, acai berries and more.

The problem? “None of these products has been adequately studied, and any or all might be harmful,” Dr. Tavel said. “Dietary supplements are promoted as safe and effective, but they are rarely either … they are almost universally ineffective.”

For instance, there may be a correlation between liver failure, muscle breakdown and kidney problems. “Very often, these products contain the word ‘natural’ or “herbal,” which suggests that they were safer than prescription medication,” Dr. Tavel said, “but nothing could be further from the truth.”

In addition, Dr. Mark Jabro, an internist at Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Center who’s involved with the Center for Health Management, said supplements could potentially interact with other drugs or aggravate pre-existing conditions.

Dr. Jabro said supplements often are not well labeled, so consumers often don’t know the dosage or ingredients in the supplement, or there could be very little of the touted herb included in the formula. As a result, a supplement could prompt a reaction with a prescription drug, or contain stimulants such as caffeine that are not beneficial for those with conditions such as high blood pressure or heart disease.

“The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) doesn’t regulate these over-the-counters very well … the quality control is certainly not there,” Dr. Jabro said. “It’s kind of buyer beware.” Dr. Hanna said the lack of FDA oversight stems from the fact that supplements aren’t considered “medications,” so they don’t need premarket approval. Rather, the FDA regulates after the fact. Dr. Hanna said if a product or supplement shows potential harm, the FDA can ask that it be removed or voluntarily recalled. Also, if a company selling the product makes unsubstantiated claims, both the FDA and Federal Trade Commission can take regulatory action.

“Companies that make supplements can sell them prior to study and approval; they can put any dose they feel like and mix it with multiple other ingredients,” Dr. Hanna said. “If the supplement is plant-based, it still has to be processed, dried, mixed with other ingredients.I don’t see how that is ‘natural’ and therefore not benign.”

While it involves more discipline and work, Dr. Hanna said the most effective way to lose weight is by making lifelong changes — eating healthy with a balance of lean protein, carbohydrates and fat.

Exercise is also an essential component.

Dr. Hanna hears plenty of excuses why people can’t exercise, everything from joint problems to it being boring, but said anyone can find an activity; from water aerobics, that’s easy on the joints, to fast-paced competitive sports such as racquetball, there’s an activity for everyone. Hanna even once had a wheelchair-bound patient with spina bifida lose weight with diet changes, chair yoga and light upper-body weights.

“There are few good, scientifically sound studies that study the benefit on weight loss using supplements,” Dr. Hanna said.

Hutkin is a freelance writer