Fake Nutritional Supplements Alert!
Here we go again!
Last year Amazon alerted consumers who had purchased Align (Procter & Gamble brand) nutritional supplements from a certain seller that the product was counterfeit and that they needed to stop consuming it. Just to put this problem into perspective, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reported that in 2016 the on-line sales of counterfeit products, ingredients and name brands amounted to $509 Billions!
Raw materials come in many forms and from numerous sources (India, China). Some are not as effective as others, perhaps because they are less bioavailable or less stable than others. Some are selected by manufacturers, not because they are better quality, but because they are cheaper or easier to use in the manufacturing process. Also, while dietary supplement manufacturers are required to perform identification tests on raw materials, they are not required to test their materials efficacy or things like residual solvents and fillers that may be used in the production process with potential harmful consequences over prolonged consumption.
It may surprise you, but dietary supplements do not require FDA approval since they are classified as special food category and fall under the jurisdiction of Dietary Supplement Health & Education Act of 1994. This is why it is so important to purchase only “medical-grade” supplements from a reputable source.
Bellissimo Medical in Weston believes that it is critical that consumers understand the importance of this issue and remain educated. Not all supplements are created equal and therefore, we only rely on a variety of national reputable companies that continually test raw materials and finish products in state-of-the-art laboratories with cutting edge scientific methods to guarantee substance identity, potency and safety.
Call today to schedule your complimentary consultation at 954-384-8989. Dr. Jean- Claude Nerette is Board-Certified in both Internal Medicine and Functional Medicine. Stephanie Muñiz Nerette is a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner and a Diplomate to the Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. Bellissimo Medical, LLC is located at 2665 Executive Park Drive, Suite #3, Weston FL 33331 (www.bellissimomedical.com)
