Question

Which of the following statements is a true reason why consumers are advised to use caution when considering whether to use a dietary supplement?

group of answer choices
a. dietary supplement labels only make legal claims.
b. dietary supplements can interact with other medications and cause harm.
c. dietary supplement labels only list exactly what is in the product.
d. dietary supplements are consistently tested by a third party before being marketed to consumers.

Answer 1

Consumers are advised to use caution with dietary supplements because they can interact with medications and cause harm, not being as strictly regulated as pharmaceutical drugs, and may contain unlisted or harmful ingredients or contaminants.

Step-by-step explanation:

The true reason why consumers are advised to use caution when considering whether to use a dietary supplement is that dietary supplements can interact with other medications and cause harm. This is important to consider because dietary supplements are not regulated as strictly as pharmaceutical drugs. Supplement manufacturers are responsible for determining the safety of their products, but they do not need to provide evidence of safety or effectiveness unless a new dietary ingredient is added, according to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. Furthermore, supplements have been found to contain unlisted and potentially harmful ingredients, and there are reports of health problems related to their use, including liver damage and other serious side effects. Moreover, some supplements may contain contaminants or not match the levels of ingredients listed on the label, posing additional risks.