Study: Supplements may contain unspecified ingredients and be misleading

A recent study published in the Analytical Science Journal by Professor Rosalie Hellberg of the Schmid College of Science and Technology and students Kalin Harris, Diane Kim, Miranda Miranda, and Shevon Jordan found that some supplement companies may be misleading customers with unsubstantiated health claims and unlisted ingredients.

The researchers focused on supplements that were associated with the supposed treatment or prevention of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. The use of dietary supplements has increased dramatically around the world during the pandemic.

"There has been a dramatic increase in the purchase and use of these types of supplements during the pandemic. Any time demand increases, the potential for fraud increases," said Professor Rosalie Hellberg of the Schmid College of Science and Technology.

The Chapman University team collected 54 supplements containing Ayurvedic herbs, which are an alternative medicine system originating from India. They specifically selected herbs that have been used as a purported treatment for COVID-19. These included ashwagandha, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, tulsi, vacha, amla, guduchi, and tribulus. All products were purchased online and from local retailers in Orange and Los Angeles counties, California.

The researchers analyzed whether they could use DNA barcoding techniques to identify plant species in supplements to determine the authenticity of the products. DNA barcoding is a technique that allows scientists to use a short fragment of DNA sequence to identify the species of an organism.

The results of the study revealed several problems that point to the need for increased control of these products. In 60% of the products, the researchers did not detect the expected ingredient. However, Hellberg did not directly link these results to fraud. The DNA barcoding method, as it is used in a new context, may have a limited ability to detect degraded DNA. Therefore, a negative result does not necessarily prove the absence of the species in the product.

Another limitation of the DNA barcoding method is that it does not show the amount of each type of ingredient detected. Further testing would be needed to verify the amount of each ingredient, Hellberg said.

"If ingredients are present in higher amounts, that could raise concerns," Hellberg said. "Also, any time you find substances that are not listed on the label, that could indicate quality control issues. It could also indicate other health risks or improper handling of the products."

The researchers also found 19 products with unspecified plant species. Rice and several other materials were used as common fillers. They also identified other Ayurvedic herbs that were not listed on the labels.

"So they can be used for fraudulent purposes," Hellberg said. "Instead of having 100 percent of the species claimed on the label, some manufacturers may add fillers because it's cheaper."

With unspecified types and ingredients in supplements, consumers may be ingesting substances that cause allergic reactions and other health risks. However, it is not clear from the study how high this risk is, as the researchers were not able to determine the amount of each ingredient.

"If ingredients are present in higher amounts, that could raise concerns," Hellberg said. "Also, any time you find substances that are not listed on the label, that could indicate quality control issues. It could also indicate other health risks or improper handling of the products."