07 Dec 2007

Steroids in dietary supplements?

Tests on a number of the best-selling dietary supplements in the United States found that about one-quarter of them contained traces of steroids and 11.5 percent contained banned stimulants, the Associated Press reported.

The study, which did not name any of the products or their manufacturers, was overseen by Informed-Choice, a non-profit coalition of US supplement companies. Five years ago, the International Olympic Committee found steroids in 18.8 percent of 240 supplements purchased in the United States.

Strict control not implemented
"The presence of steroids and stimulants in supplement products is still very much an issue," the authors of the new study concluded. "It is clear that not all supplement manufacturers follow good manufacturing practices and the necessary controls are not always implemented to ensure the safety of athletes and the general public who use the supplement products."

The study results didn't surprise Lori Bestervelt, senior vice president and chief technical officer for NSF International, a non-profit company that offers a range of testing services.

"I think there are two categories, one where people are intentionally putting [steroids/stimulants] in, and another where they aren't but don't have a good rein on the supply chain or manufacturing practices, so things can slip a bit," she told the AP. – (HealthDay News)