“Brain Boosting” Supplements
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post:
Study Discovers Multiple Unapproved Drugs in “Brain Boosting” Supplements.
Could Over-the-Counter “Smart Drugs” Pose Health Risks?
17-Sep-2020
From Newswise, by American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
Article Summary: “Supplements that claim to improve mental focus and memory may contain unapproved pharmaceutical drugs and in potentially dangerous combinations and doses, according to a new study published in the September 23, 2020, online issue of Neurology® Clinical Practice, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers found five such drugs not approved in the United States in the supplements they examined. The supplements are sometimes called “nootropics,” “smart drugs” or “cognitive enhancers.” “
“Over-the-counter cognitive supplements are popular because they promise a sharper mind, but they are not as closely regulated as pharmaceutical drugs,” said study author Pieter A. Cohen, M.D., of Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. ‘Use of these supplements poses potentially serious health risks. Not only did we detect five unapproved drugs in these products, we also detected several drugs that were not mentioned on the labels, and we found doses of unapproved drugs that were as much as four times higher than what would be considered a typical dose.’ Cohen said the supplements could be especially risky if used in combination with prescriptions drugs or instead of seeking medical advice.”
“Unlike pharmaceutical drugs that must be proven safe and effective for their intended use before they are marketed to consumers, the law does not require the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness before they reach the consumer. “
“Researchers identified 10 supplements, eight that promised to enhance mental function, one that was marketed as “workout explosives” and another that had the words “outlast, endure, overcome” on the label.”
Our study . . . “raises concerns regarding the quality and legality of supplements listed in supplement databases.”