Of the 30 products purchased in June 2023 from 12 online companies promoting military discounts, 25 had inaccurate labels, 24 had incorrect brand names, and 7 had incorrect labels. One-third contained substances prohibited for military use.
“These findings suggest that predatory marketing and low-quality weight loss supplements pose a threat to military personnel and the general public,” the authors wrote.
The paper brought together research scientists from the Consortium for Health and Military Performance (CHAMP), the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, and the University of Mississippi's National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR).
Nutritional supplements and the US military
The study is part of the ongoing work of the Department of Defense's Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS), which was launched in 2012 to educate military personnel about dietary supplements and investigate supplement use within the military. It has started.
According to the results of the 2021 Military Survey, approximately 70% of service members surveyed reported using nutritional supplements at least once a week, “particularly to improve physical performance.” Combination products and protein/amino acid products called
A previous case study by the same research group examined commercially available products for immune health and cognitive performance and examined whether ingredients were accurately labeled according to supplement facts listed on the product label. Did.
Both studies found that dietary supplements in these categories were often adulterated with misbranded or adulterated substances, and called for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to 'modernize' current regulations for dietary supplements. “While efforts are being made, we need to educate the public so that they can recognize the warning signs.” ”
OPSS Director Andrea Lindsay previewed this latest case study on weight loss supplements last month at the annual meeting of the Oxford International Congress of Plant Sciences, hosted by NCNPR.
“From our standpoint, the fact that 10 of them had substances on the prohibited list hidden or listed on the label is of course concerning,” she said, adding that misbranded supplements He explained that it could lead to decreased performance and serious symptoms. It can cause adverse health events and jeopardize a military member's career.
Make informed and prudent decisions
Lindsay also highlighted the constant pressure to gain weight in the military, as regulations set strict weight-for-height and body fat standards as a condition of service.
A 2021 military review notes that “individuals who do not meet these standards will receive adverse performance reports and may be discharged if they repeatedly fail to meet the standards.” “Thus, some people who have difficulty meeting these requirements may turn to commercially available DS for weight and body fat loss.”
Dietary supplements for weight loss belong to a market category expected to reach $135.7 billion by 2030, and with the market trend towards all-in-one solutions, nutritional supplements for weight loss are not just for weight loss, but also for providing additional energy and Other benefits such as performance are also packaged and promoted. .
of JAMA network openThe paper also highlights the number and combination of ingredients “all packed into one capsule” as a rapidly expanding growth opportunity for the market, and notes that service members “will be offered discounts as a thank you.” is the main target of slogans such as “
“Of concern was the fact that most products contained multiple ingredients and combinations with stimulant effects,” the authors write. “It is unknown how these stimulants interact with other ingredients, not to mention the current use of over-the-counter and prescription medications and additional dietary supplements.”
What is and is not included in supplements
This study uses liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine whether products are accurately labeled according to the ingredients listed in Supplement Facts and whether they are listed on the Department of Defense Prohibited Dietary Supplement Ingredients List. We have verified whether it contains any substances.
The 10 products formulated with ingredients prohibited for military use contained between one and seven of these ingredients and either were listed or not listed on the label.
They include DMHA, 1,4 DMAA, acacia rigidula, ephedra extract is listed on the label, but was detected as ephedrine, methylephedrine, pseudoephedrine, higenamine, hordenine, isopropylnorsynephrine, methylsynephrine, octopamine, and vinpocetine. An unapproved drug known as xanthinol was listed on the label and detected in some products. Nine products contain phenethylamine and its derivative stimulants, which are banned for use in sports by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and seven products are on both the Department of Defense Prohibited List and the WADA List. contained the ingredients.
Ingredients listed on the label but not detected include bitter orange whole plant extract, hoodia extract, Huperzia serrataExtract, kola nuts, raspberry ketones, Rauwolfiaand white willow bark extract.One product claimed to have saffron, but there were cheaper saffron alternatives. Carthamus tinctoriusA flower was detected instead.
“[F]”The overhyped marketing of weight loss products continues, especially through online sources, including those that contain exaggerated claims, are potentially dangerous, or contain illegal ingredients,” the authors concluded. “Some sources even target service members by offering military discounts. Service members need to know that the weight loss products they access through online sources are of high quality. ”
sauce: JAMA network open
“Label Accuracy of Weight Loss Dietary Supplements Sold Online with Military Discounts”
Doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.9131
Author: Cindy Crawford et al.
