Study: Supplements may contain unlisted ingredients and be misleading

Recent research published in the Analytical Science Journal conducted by Professor Rosalie Hellberg of the Schmid College of Science and Technology and students Kaleen Harris, Diane Kim, Miranda Miranda and Shevon Jordan, found that some supplement companies may be misleading customers with unsubstantiated health claims and unlisted ingredients.

The researchers focused on supplements that were associated with the purported treatment or prevention of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases. During the pandemic, the use of dietary supplements has increased sharply around the world.

"During the pandemic, there has been a sharp increase in the purchase and use of these types of supplements. Every time demand increases, so does the likelihood of fraud," said Professor Rosalie Hellberg of the Schmid College of Science and Technology.

The Chapman University team collected 54 supplements containing Ayurvedic herbs, which are classified as alternative medicine originating from India. They specifically selected herbs that were used for the supposed treatment of COVID-19. These included ashwagandha, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, tulsi, vacha, amla, guduchi and tribulus. All products were purchased online and from local retailers in Orange and Los Angeles Counties, California.

Researchers analyzed whether they could use DNA barcoding techniques to identify plant species in supplements to determine the authenticity of products. DNA barcoding is a technique that allows scientists to use a short piece of DNA sequence to identify the species of an organism.

The results of the study revealed several problems indicating the need for increased control of these products. In 60% of the products, the researchers did not find the expected ingredient. However, Hellberg did not directly link these results to fraud. The DNA barcoding method, since it is used in a new context, may have limited ability to detect degraded DNA. Therefore, a negative result does not necessarily prove the absence of the species in the product.

Another limitation of the DNA barcoding method is that it does not indicate the quantity of the type of ingredient detected. More research will be needed to verify the amount of each ingredient, Hellberg noted.

"If the ingredients are present in greater quantities, it could be a concern," Hellberg said. "Additionally, any time you find substances that are not listed on the label, it may indicate a quality control problem. It may also indicate other health risks or improper handling of the products."

The researchers also identified 19 products with unspecified plant species. Rice and a few other materials were used as common fillings. They also identified other Ayurvedic herbs that were not listed on the labels.

"So they can be used for fraudulent purposes," Hellberg said. "Instead of having 100% of what is stated on the label, some manufacturers may add fillers because it is cheaper."

When unspecified types and ingredients are present in supplements, consumers may be taking substances that cause allergic reactions and other health risks. However, it is not clear from the study how high this risk is because the researchers were not able to determine the amount of each ingredient.

"If the ingredients are present in greater quantities, it could be a concern," Hellberg said. "Additionally, any time you find substances that are not listed on the label, it may indicate a quality control problem. It may also indicate other health risks or improper handling of the products."