Final answer:
The FDA regulates supplements with less rigor than pharmaceuticals, requiring manufacturers to ensure their safety without pre-market approval, which has led to health issues from unsafe ingredients in some supplements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The FDA regulates supplements differently compared to pharmaceuticals. Dietary supplements, while subject to the FDA's Good Manufacturing Standards, are not required to meet the same rigorous safety and efficacy standards that drugs do. Supplement manufacturers can make certain claims about their products affecting the structure or function of the body, but they must include a disclaimer stating the product is not intended "to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." The FDA only removes supplements from the market after demonstrating that they pose a hazard, placing the initial responsibility for safety on the manufacturers.
Furthermore, under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994, dietary supplements do not require FDA approval before they are marketed, unless a new dietary ingredient is added. While this may have bolstered the supplement industry, it has also led to health problems related to the use of dietary supplements. Reports show that supplements, particularly those related to bodybuilding, have sometimes contained dangerous and undisclosed substances.