ACMT Position Statement: Dietary supplements

• Published in: Journal of medical toxicology Vol. 2; no. 3; pp. 116 - 118
• Main Authors: Kurt, Thomas L, Hall, Alan H, McKay, Charles
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States University of Pennsylvania Press 01.09.2006; Springer Nature B.V; Springer-Verlag
• Subjects: ACMT Position Statements; Alternative medicine; Cardiac arrhythmia; Complications and side effects; Descriptive labeling; Diet; Dietary supplements; Dietary Supplements - adverse effects; Drug interactions; Federal legislation; Food safety; Herb-Drug Interactions; Herbal medicine; Humans; Ingredients; Legislation; Medicine, Botanic; Medicine, Herbal; Nutrition; Patients; Pharmaceuticals; Physicians; Risk factors; Side effects; Toxicity; Toxicology; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration; United States
• ISSN: 1556-9039; 1937-6995
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03161023

Herbal medication use as a dietary supplement is common. Many Americans use these products, federal legislation has implemented the USDSHEA, and there is now a National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at NIH. Ethical herbal medication use of those single substances shown to be effective is growing. When patients are taking dietary supplements or herbal medications, the ingredients, origin, and potential toxicity or herb-drug interactions need to be determined. Education concerning these products and their potential toxicity, adverse effects, and interactions should become an essential component of medical toxicology. Clinicians caring for patients who may self-administer these products should attempt to obtain this history and familiarize themselves with the potential problems. The American College of Medical Toxicology strongly recommends consultation with or care by a medical toxicologist in cases of suspected or confirmed toxicity, adverse effects, or interactions from dietary supplements. We further encourage patients to report their use of these supplements to their physicians. FDA supervised labeling now requires a "Supplement Facts" label on each dietary supplement bottle marketed in the U.S. that describes and quantitates ingredients; supplements that do not have such a label should be used cautiously, if at all. The ACMT strongly supports the FDA's plan to further review and regulate dietary supplements where clinical experience or scientific information suggests the possibility of harm.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]