Safety
True or False: Because they are all natural, herbal supplements do not have any side effects
FALSE
True or False: The FDA requires herbal products & supplements be proven EFFECTIVE before being sold
FALSE
What should you do BEFORE taking any new vitamin, supplement, or herbal product?
Ask your provider, nurse, or pharmacist!
True or False: All supplements are potentially harmful and should be avoided
FALSE
True or False: The FDA requires herbal products & supplements be proven SAFE before being sold
FALSE
What Vitamin is provided by sunlight? (Hint many Wisconsinites are LOW in this level)
Vitamin D
*Usually very safe to take - but check with your healthcare provider first
What are two ways in which supplements can interact negatively with chemotherapy/anti-cancer treatments?
1) Some can interfere with the metabolism of the chemotherapy, making it less effective.
2) Some may increase the side effects of chemotherapy (risk of bleeding, liver damage, etc)
True or False: Manufacturers of herbal supplements can legally claim to TREAT medical conditions
FALSE
What common supplement is actually a hormone produced by the brain to promote sleep?
Melatonin
*This is generally safe to take! But check with your health care provider first
This supplement is safe to take:
Vitamin B17 / Amygdalin Capsules - Apricot Power | Vitamin B
FALSE
*Apricot Kernels & Amygdalin Release Cyanide - Long Term Use Can Cause Cyanide Poisoning
In a 2023 study published by JAMA, what percent of evaluated herbal supplements did NOT accurately declare the ingredients on the label?
89%
*Of note - 12% studied contained ingredients banned by the FDA
The CDC issued a warning this year for what common sleep supplement due to a recent spike in accidental childhood overdoses?
Melatonin
What abbreviation should you look for on a supplement bottle to ensure the supplement has been externally reviewed for quality?
USP (United States Pharmacopeia)