That bottle in your medicine cabinet may deserve a closer look.<\/p>\n
Nearly three-quarters of American adults<\/a> take dietary supplements, with more than half reaching for them regularly. But behind the glossy labels and bold promises, some products aren\u2019t what they seem.<\/p>\n Experts say three supplement categories are particularly prone to problems flagged by third-party testing and FDA enforcement, raising questions about their safety, quality and effectiveness for consumers. <\/p>\n Together, they form the supplement world\u2019s \u201cunholy trinity\u201d \u2014 but the good news is, you don\u2019t need divine intervention to steer clear of trouble.<\/p>\n FDA enforcement shows that three categories of supplements are more likely than others to contain ingredients that aren\u2019t listed on their labels. Getty Images<\/p>\n The trio? Supplements marketed to boost sexual performance, help people lose weight or improve athletic performance.<\/p>\n \u201cThese categories often promise rapid or dramatic results, which can create stronger incentives for some manufacturers to make claims or formulate products in ways that don\u2019t comply with dietary supplement regulations,\u201d John Travis, senior scientific strategist and advisor for NSF<\/a>, told The Post at an event hosted by Nutrafol<\/a>.<\/p>\n There\u2019s an important reason consumers may not know what they\u2019re getting.\u00a0<\/p>\n Unlike prescription and over-the-counter drugs, the FDA doesn\u2019t review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they hit store shelves. Instead, manufacturers are responsible for making sure their products comply with federal rules.<\/p>\n Third-party organizations like NSF can provide another layer of oversight, independently testing and certifying supplements to check that they contain what they claim, are made in safe facilities and are free of harmful or banned substances.<\/p>\n But one of the biggest problems its experts encounter is a simple one: What\u2019s on the label isn\u2019t always what\u2019s in the bottle.<\/p>\n \u201cHistorically, FDA enforcement has shown that products marketed for sexual enhancement, weight loss, and certain sports performance claims are more likely than other supplement product categories to contain undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients,\u201d Travis said.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause those ingredients aren\u2019t listed on the label, consumers have no practical way to know they\u2019re present.\u201d<\/p>\n Supplements marketed for weight loss, sexual enhancement and athletic performance are frequently flagged for problems in third-party testing. New Africa \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Back in May, the FDA warned consumers<\/a> not to buy or use X10 Natural Enhancement Supplement, which was marketed for sexual enhancement, after testing found it contained sildenafil and tadalafil \u2014 prescription drug ingredients that were nowhere to be found on the label.<\/p>\n Likewise, in 2023, a study of 57 sports performance supplements<\/a> found that 89% had inaccurate labels. Some were missing ingredients they claimed to have, while others contained illegal drugs.<\/p>\n And earlier this month, the FDA added three botanical weight-loss products<\/a> to its list of products found to contain toxic yellow oleander, a deadly plant that can damage the heart.<\/p>\n But hidden ingredients aren\u2019t the only concern. The promises plastered across supplement bottles can also go too far.<\/p>\n