Evaluating Lead Levels in Multivitamins: An Analytical Approach

BackgroundThe consumption of dietary supplements is widely spread and on the rise. These dietary supplements are generally used without prescriptions, proper counseling or any awareness of their health risk. The current study aimed at analyzing the metals in 33 samples of imported dietary supplements highly consumed by the Lebanese population, using 3 different techniques, to ensure the safety and increase the awareness of the citizen to benefit from these dietary supplements.ResultsSome samples had levels of metals above their maximum allowable levels (Fe: 24%, Zn: 33%, Mn: 27%, Se: 15%, Mo: 12% of samples), but did not pose any health risk because they were below permitted daily exposure limit and recommended daily allowance except for Fe in 6% of the samples. On the other hand, 34% of the samples had Cu levels above allowable limit where 18% of them were above their permitted daily exposure and recommended daily allowance. In contrast, all samples had concentration of Cr, Hg, and Pb below allowable limits and daily exposure. Whereas, 30% of analyzed samples had levels of Cd above allowable levels, and were statistically correlated with Ca, and Zn essential minerals. Similarly 62% of the samples had levels of As above allowable limits and As levels were associated with Fe and Mn essential minerals.ConclusionDietary supplements consumed as essential nutrients for their Ca, Zn, Fe and Mn content should be monitored for toxic metal levels due to their natural geochemical association with these essential metals to provide citizens the safe allowable amounts.

IntroductionIn the last decades, dietary supplements consumption has increased in the Western world for all age groups. The long-term potentially dangerous effects related to an indiscriminate consumption of dietary supplements are still unknown and are becoming a matter of public health concern. Therefore, the aims of the present study were: to explore the contribution of dietary supplements to micronutrient daily intake, and to evaluate awareness and knowledge about dietary supplements.MethodsParticipants (age ranging from 14 to 18 years) were recruited among students attending 8 high schools in the province of Frosinone (Italy). An anonymous questionnaire, composed of 12 multiple-choice items, was administered to all the participants. T-test and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed to describe differences between means of the groups, while the chi-square test was used to compare observed and expected frequencies. The logistic regression model, aimed at identifying the characteristics of potential consumers of dietary supplements,ResultsA total of 686 teenagers (288 males and 398 females, average age: 17,89±0,91 years) participated in the study. The 83,6% of participants affirmed to be aware of dietary supplements. 239 participants consumed dietary supplements: 118 males and 121 females. 49,1% of females consumed dietary supplements less than twice a week, whereas 43,6% of males consumed dietary supplements from 2 to 5 times per week. Statistically significant differences emerged between the genders with respect to the source of information regarding dietary supplements, the perceived indications for their use, and the choice of the store/place to purchase them.DiscussionFindings in the present study provide insight into the consumption of dietary supplements among young Italians, highlighting the need to foster further awareness among adolescents about the correct use of dietary supplements, especially in terms of indications and contraindications.

The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of dietary supplement (DS) consumption by students, their perception of it during Covid 19 confinement, as well as the factors associated with it. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out online with a questionnaire, with a population of 350 students from Casablanca (Morocco), from March to May, 2020. The consumption pattern of DS, socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyle were collected. The association between the different factors was made by Pearson’s correlation analysis. 69.4% of participants consume DS of which 32% are boys and 27.4% are girls. The most prominent reason for taking DS was to fight fatigue and combat stress (19.8%), and participants preferred to buy them in pharmacies and drugstores (55.5%), on medical prescription. (32.77%) or on the advice of a pharmacist (7.92%). 50.60% consumed vitamins, minerals and/or trace elements, 4.5% proteins/Amino acids and 4% fish oils. About a third (35%) consumed more than one type of supplement at the same time. 45.54% used them occasionally, 17.92% regularly and 6.08 frequently. 48.4% respected the recommended daily doses. Supplementation was significantly associated with body mass index, physical activity, socioeconomic level and is slightly conditioned by dietary practices. 32.5% think that DS is harmless to health; 21.27% that regular consumption can prevent some diseases; 46.23% that excessive consumption can present health risks. These risks could be related to some components of DS. 21.78% of respondent’s experience real satisfaction after consuming DS; 34.65% feel better; while 2.97% think they have no effect. Students seemed more likely to consume DS during confinement than the general population, which raises questions related to their impact on health. Thus, awareness campaigns for students on the risks and dangers of these substances are necessary. Strict regulations to ensure their job security are recommended.

In recent years, the consumption of dietary supplements (DS) has increased worldwide. In Argentina, approximately 14 million DS units were sold between 2015 and 2017. The adulteration of DS with active pharmaceutical ingredients or their analogues has been reported. This represents an alarming emerging risk to public health. The aim of this work was to detect the possible adulteration of a DS marketed in Argentina for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Initially, thin layer chromatography analysis of the DS capsules content suggested the presence of a major compound. For the isolation and purification of this compound, an easy method consisted of a liquid-liquid extraction (water/CH2Cl2) followed by re-crystallisation from ethanol, is reported. Spectroscopic techniques such as mono- and bidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry allowed its identification as tadalafil. A rapid and reliable method was developed for the quantification of tadalafil in this DS by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The mean content of tadalafil per capsule was 21.2 mg which represents a slightly higher value than that found in approved products in Argentina (5 or 20 mg per tablet). In addition, an undeclared alga was identified in the DS by microscopic techniques.

Background: Dietary supplements (DS) are very popular with the general population, physically active people and professional athletes are often taken without professional advice. Adverse effects on consumer health are increasingly being reported and there are concerns about overdoses of certain nutrients. There are initial indications that some groups of people have a higher affinity to DS than others. It appears that the type of sport and possibly gym membership could have an influence on consumer behaviour. Therefore, this study aimed to identify high consumer groups of DS among the general population in Germany. Methods: The consumption of DS was assessed using an online questionnaire including information about physical activity, gym membership and the consumption and intake doses of DS. Completed questionnaires were returned by 244 participants (m=153, f=91; 30.7±10.4 years SD). The answer options were valued, and subjects were categorized in low, average and high consumers (indicating overdosing). A configural frequency analysis was performed using the independent variables gender, gym membership, consumption. The configurations were tested with an exact binomial test and the p-value was corrected according to Bonferroni (0.05/12=0.0042). Results: Three significant configurations were found (p≤0.0042). The configuration, ‘male-gym member-average consumption’ as well as ‘male-gym member-high consumption’ were significantly overrepresented. Male gym members with low consumption behaviour were significantly underrepresented. Conclusion: This analysis suggests that male gym users in the German population have a higher risk of excessive DS consumption than other subgroups. Awareness campaigns regarding the risk of intake and overconsumption of DS can be targeted to high-risk groups. Due to the small sample size and the different types of fitness gyms, further studies are needed to make clearer statements and identify more precise risk groups.

This paper is an attempt to answer a question concerning the existing legal framework and whether or not it is sufficient to ensure civil liability for damages caused by the consumption of a defective dietary supplement. The issue of proper regulation of liability for the defects of unsafe food products will become increasingly important in view of the rapid development of food production and consumption. It is assumed that normative sanctioning of that type of liability should primarily contribute to ensuring better protection of the consumer. However, the example of liability of damage caused by consuming dietary supplements illustrates that we are dealing with a multi-dimensional issue that may go beyond the applicable regime. The existing legal framework is insufficient to ensure civil liability for damages caused by the consumption of a defective dietary supplement. It is a direct consequence of the specific nature of dietary supplements and the lack of an adequate risk analysis when adding a definition of that product to EU law. De lege ferenda, it is imperative that the term of a product ‘defect’ be expanded and that additional disclosure duties are imposed on manufacturers, among others.

Health-, medication- and dietary supplement-related behaviors and beliefs relatively unchanged during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

In order to examine the consumption of dietary supplements among urban adults and the impact of psychological stress on supplement use in relation to lifestyle, 375 interviews of a population-based sample of urban Japanese in 2002 were analysed. The usage of various supplements, stress process (daily stressors, psychological moderators, stress outcomes), personal health practices (smoking, alcohol drinking, physical exercise, fruit and vegetable juice consumption, health-conscious eating habits) and other background factors were measured. We examined the impacts of stress on the use of vitamin tablets and capsules, vitamin-enriched health drinks and health drinks for intestinal adjustment. The percentages of these three categories of supplement user were 26.9, 18.7 and 35.7%, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, subjects with 'two or more' daily stressors out of the eight stressors investigated consistently showed 2-fold higher levels of consumption of either vitamin tablets and capsules or vitamin-enriched drinks compared with their counterparts with 'one or less' daily stressors. Stress-outcome indicators also related, to a greater or less extent, to the elevated consumption of various supplements. Further lifestyle-stratified analyses revealed that the stress-supplementation relationships were weaker in subjects fulfilling more than three of the five investigated health practices (i.e. the healthy lifestyle group), but stronger in subjects with fewer than two healthy practices (i.e. the less healthy lifestyle group). In conclusion, dietary supplement consumption is independently associated with stress in urban adults. The uncontrolled use of supplements for the self-medication of stress or to compensate for unhealthy behaviour represents a health concern for the general population.

Background: Dietary supplements have been investigated for their impact on the periodontal apparatus (alveolar bone, mucosa, periodontal ligament, and cementum) and their hypothetical protective role against periodontitis. There remains a gap in the field in this area. Thus, the present study aims to examine the correlation between populations who report taking different dietary supplements and their relative periodontal health. Methods: The BigMouth dental data repository derived from the dental Electronic Health Records (EHRs) of the University of Michigan school of dentistry was used to extract data relating to all patients who fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The prevalence of periodontitis compared to periodontal health as related to supplement consumption was assessed. Results: A total of 118,426 individuals (55,459 males and 62,967 females) with self-reported consumption of the dietary supplements of interest were identified in the University of Michigan database via the BigMouth repository. Associations with the following vitamins were investigated, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Multivitamins, Fish oil, Calcium, Omega 3, Saw palmetto, Zinc, Sildenafil, Flax seed, Folic acid, Garlic pills, Ginger pills, Ginko, Ginseng, Glucosamine, Iron, and Magnesium. Out of these supplements, only multivitamins and iron were found to significantly favor periodontal health, while folic acid and vitamin E significantly favored periodontitis. Conclusions: This study found a minimal association between the consumption of dietary supplements with periodontal health.

Analiza zwyczajów żywieniowych uczestników klubów seniora

This study aimed to evaluate the consumption of dietary supplements (DS) and to determine related topics in Turkish football players of different sexes and competition levels. A total of 117 footballers (79 males and 38 females) completed a specific survey regarding DS consumption in athletes. The type of DS ingested was classified based on the level of scientific evidence by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS): group A (high level of scientific evidence), group B (DS that could have a positive effect, but require more evidence), group C (evidence is against their use), and group D (prohibited substances). After a Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, a t-test or Mann–Whitney U test was performed for quantitative variables, while Pearson’s chi-square and odds ratio (with the confidence interval) were performed for qualitative variables. Of the sample, 87.2% reported having consumed DS, with a higher consumption rate in males (males: 93.7%, females: 73.7%; p = 0.006; OR = 5.3 [1.7–16.8]) and professional players (professional: 98.2%, non-professional: 77.4%; p < 0.001; OR = 7.9 [1.2–52.3]). Males and professional players consume more sports foods (p < 0.001), performance supplements (p < 0.001), and total group A supplements (p < 0.001) compared to females and non-professionals. In addition, males consume more medical supplements (p = 0.012) and total group C supplements (p < 0.001) than female footballers. The most consumed DS were sports drinks (63.2%), magnesium (52.1%), vitamin C (51.3%), vitamin D (46.2%), caffeine (38.5%), sports bars (37.6%), whey protein (28.2%), meat protein (25.6%), vitamin E (24.8%), and omega-3 fatty acids (24.8%). The supplement consumption was higher in male and professional footballers. According to the AIS classification, there were significant differences in the consumption of sports foods, medical supplements, performance supplements, and the total number of group A and group C supplements according to sex, and there were significant differences in the consumption of sports foods, performance supplements, and the total number of group A supplements according to competition level.

Despite the lack of evidence-based guidance on supplement use for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, consumption of dietary supplements has been shown to increase in many countries. This study aimed to explore the use of dietary supplements among undergraduate students. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted between May and June 2021, involving a total of 536 participants (57.8% female) aged between 18-30 years in two university towns in central and northern Greece. Two validated questionnaires were used regarding dietary supplements and stress during COVID-19. The prevalence of dietary supplement use was 67.5%. The three most popular supplements consumed were vitamin C (65.2%), followed by vitamin D (58.3%), and multivitamin and mineral supplements (56.9%). The use of CAS-5 indicated that 13.1% of students were classified as having dysfunctional anxiety due to COVID-19 (CAS-5 score ≥5). Logistic regression analysis showed that those who exhibited CAS-5 ≥5 were over two times more likely to consume supplements compared to no-stress participants (OR 2.29, 95%CI: 1.09-4.82). Particularly vitamin D use was associated with CAS score ≥5 (OR 2.18, 95%CI 1.22-3.89) a finding that was not observed with other types of dietary supplements. Women, passive smokers, and those who believe that DS are necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic were also more likely to consume dietary supplements. The use of dietary supplements is widespread among Greek students. Future studies should be conducted to monitor whether these increases in DS use are maintained.

The consumption of dietary supplements is widely spread and on the rise in Qatar market. Toxic metals like mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic can be naturally present in dietary supplements and can pose harmful effects on human health. Pharmacy and Drug Control Department; SCH has been involved in proper counselling of these products before they are marketed to Qatar. In this study Two hundred and thirty five different dietary products (capsule, liquid or powder form) were analyzed which were submitted to our department for registration. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) and Mercury Analyzer are used to monitor toxic metals that exceed United States Pharmacopeia (USP) maximum limits. Samples were digested with HNO3+HCl (5:1) by utilizing closed vessel microwave system. The validity of the applied method was assessed by the analysis of standard reference material (SRM 1548a), and the recoveries were 100 ± 10% of the certified value for 4 metals. Among the 235 samples, 13 samples contained lead (Pb) exceed the USP limit while 2 samples with arsenic (As) above the limit. No sample contained Cd and Hg above the limits. Pharmacy and Drug Control Department is taking action and monitoring toxic levels of Hg, Pb, Cd and As in herbal and dietary supplements before they market in Qatar by using state of the art technology for the safety of public and for the better health of peoples living in Qatar.

ABSTRACTOver-the-counter (OTC) medicines and dietary supplements are increasingly popular in Poland, potentially improving but also potentially posing a threat to public health. The study goal is to characterize and assess behaviors related to use of OTC medicines and dietary supplements among Polish university students. A questionnaire-based survey was performed with students divided into groups (gender, subjects studied, period of studies). The majority of students declared using the products, significantly more females and younger students in their early years. Females tended to be more attentive to product information. Students with a background in biological or medical sciences were also more attentive and less influenced by advertising. The authors present that the differences between the defined groups of students should be utilized in tailored educational activities, aiming to rationalize high consumption of OTC medicines and dietary supplements. Targeting other, especially low-socioeconomic and less-educated, groups should follow.

The Food and Drug Administration issued a final regulation declaring dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) because they present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury under the conditions of use recommended or suggested in labeling, or if no conditions of use are suggested or recommended in labeling, under ordinary conditions of use. The agency took this action based upon the well-known pharmacology of ephedrine alkaloids, the peer-reviewed scientific literature on the effects of ephedrine alkaloids, and the adverse events reported to have occurred in individuals following consumption of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids. The final Rule was published in the Federal Register, Volume 69, Number 28, Pages 6787-6854 on February 11, 2004. This rule that became effective on April 12, 2004 is now included in the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR Part 119). This report includes the Table of Contents of the full Federal Register publication and selected sections and tables from that publication.