Ergogenic Aids (cont.)
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Dietary supplements can also be extracts or concentrates and may be found in many forms such as tablets, capsules, liquids or powders. Whatever their form, DSHEA places dietary supplements in a category of “foods”, not drugs, and requires that they be labeled as dietary supplements. Because they are not considered drugs, the manufacturer cannot make claims about the product being a treatment or a cure.
Under DSHEA guidelines the manufacturer may show a link between a dietary supplement and a health-related condition, as in the following example, “Calcium may lower the risk of osteoporosis.” These claims must be true and not misleading. Claims regarding function can also be used, such as, “Fiber helps maintain bowel regularity”, or “Calcium builds strong bones.” They can not use terms such as “Magic Cure”; if it were a cure, it would be widely recognized in the medical community.
However, the FDA itself does not regulate supplement claims, as they do with drugs. This should be a concern for anyone thinking about taking dietary supplements, as the burden of evaluating any claims made on the label falls on the consumer. The FDA does not test the ingredients for purity and content, they way they do in other countries (Germany for example).