Herbs, supplements and HIV

January 2005     View PDF     En español

A little background

Under current law, vitamins, supplements and herbs do not have to be evaluated by any regulatory agency, like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prior to their sale. All they need to do is assert that the product is “generally regarded as safe.” What this means is that studies are not required to show the effectiveness and safety of these products. This leaves the consumer with little or no meaningful information about their benefits or side effects.

Some manufacturers vaguely refer to “studies” in their literature, but these are seldom more than very small, uncontrolled studies. Also, these products do not have to be made according to the same Good Manufacturing Practices established for making prescription meds. As a result, these products vary widely in terms of their active ingredients, and even between batches of the same product. In fact, studies show that some products on the market today contain no active ingredients whatsoever.

Herbal supplements can actually contain dangerous chemicals, like arsenic and lead—both potentially deadly. Still others actually contain prescription meds. However, the best manufacturers make a serious effort to deliver the real product in the amounts claimed. But due to the lack of industry regulations, there’s no simple way to know who is telling the truth.

People should be aware of these things and take measures to reduce their risk of buying contaminated products or ones without active ingredients. They can do this by seeking out reputable sellers. Seek guidance from a trained alternative medicine practitioner, like an herbalist or nutritionist who specializes in HIV, and gather information about the products you’re considering. Only taking the word of people selling the products does not guarantee accurate information.

On their packages and even their websites, some manufacturers claim their products have been tested for active ingredients. Do a little research and see what you can learn. For example, some publications, like Consumer Reports and other groups like www.consumerlab.com, sometimes test supplements and list what is found in various brands. Even this, however, doesn’t tell you whether you’ll benefit from using the product.

Generally, if a company shows integrity in some of its products tested by consumer groups, it’s a reasonable sign that they maintain similar standards for their other products. According to researchers who evaluate these therapies, the quality products that undergo evaluation by the manufacturer are, in general, not the ones you’ll find at your average grocery store or pharmacy.